ESTUDYR
MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 3 UPDATED EXAM WITH MOST
TESTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | GRADED A+ | ASSURED
SUCCESS WITH DETAILED RATIONALE
Bipolar Disorder Pharmacotherapy
1. A nurse preparing pharmacotherapy for a client with bipolar disorder knows the goals include
(Select all that apply):
A. Cure of the disorder
B. Decreased frequency of manic episodes
C. Decreased severity of manic episodes
D. Rapid control of symptoms
E. Prevention of future episodes
Rationale: Pharmacotherapy manages—not cures—bipolar by stabilizing mood and preventing
relapse.
2. Which agent is the mainstay of bipolar disorder treatment? (Select all that apply)
A. Divalproex
B. Lamotrigine
C. Carbamazepine
D. Lithium carbonate
E. Fluoxetine
Rationale: Mood stabilizers (lithium, anticonvulsants) are first-line; SSRIs are used cautiously.
3. The nurse monitors which lab for lithium therapy safety?
A. Liver function tests
B. Serum lithium levels
C. Complete blood count
D. Blood glucose
Rationale: Lithium has a narrow therapeutic index; levels guide dosing and toxicity.
4. Early signs of lithium toxicity include (Select all that apply):
A. Nausea and vomiting
B. Coarse tremor
C. Drowsiness only
D. Seizures
Rationale: GI upset and tremors often precede severe toxicity.
5. Which side effect requires immediate intervention when a client starts valproate?
A. Weight gain
B. Nausea
C. Right upper-quadrant pain
,ESTUDYR
D. Drowsiness
Rationale: RUQ pain suggests hepatic injury, a rare but serious AE of valproate.
Anxiety & Neurotransmitters
6. A client panicking in group therapy reports palpitations. Which neurotransmitter is primarily
involved?
A. Serotonin
B. GABA
C. Acetylcholine
D. Norepinephrine
Rationale: NE mediates fight-or-flight responses, causing tachycardia and palpitations.
7. Benzodiazepines relieve anxiety by enhancing:
A. Dopamine
B. GABA
C. Serotonin
D. Glutamate
Rationale: Benzodiazepines potentiate GABA’s inhibitory effects in the CNS.
8. Buspirone is effective for chronic anxiety and works on:
A. GABA receptors
B. Serotonin (5-HT₁A) receptors
C. Dopamine receptors
D. Histamine receptors
Rationale: Buspirone is a serotonin agonist without sedation or dependence.
9. A client on SSRIs for anxiety develops restlessness, diaphoresis, and tremor. The nurse suspects:
A. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
B. Serotonin syndrome
C. Anticholinergic toxicity
D. Hypertensive crisis
Rationale: Serotonin syndrome includes autonomic instability and neuromuscular excitement.
10. Which dietary supplement may precipitate serotonin syndrome with SSRIs?
A. Fish oil
B. St. John’s wort
C. Valerian root
D. 5-HTP
Rationale: 5-HTP increases serotonin synthesis, risking excess with SSRIs.
, ESTUDYR
PTSD & Dissociative Disorders
11. Client behaviors characteristic of PTSD include (Select all that apply):
A. Extreme forgetfulness
B. Shouting and throwing objects out of anger
C. Causing self-injury
D. Decreased appetite
E. Inability to concentrate on studies
Rationale: Hyperarousal and impaired concentration are core PTSD symptoms; self-harm may
occur.
12. A PTSD client dissociates and fails to recognize personal info during aggression. This indicates:
A. Dissociative amnesia
B. Avoidance behavior
C. Dissociative identity disorder
D. Depersonalization disorder
Rationale: In DID, alternate identities can emerge with amnestic barriers.
13. Which intervention is essential in PTSD care?
A. Encourage avoidance of triggers
B. Use as‐needed benzodiazepines only
C. Trauma‐focused CBT
D. Hypnotherapy
Rationale: Trauma‐focused therapies (e.g., CBT, EMDR) are evidence‐based for PTSD.
14. In PTSD, avoidance symptoms include:
A. Insomnia
B. Hypervigilance
C. Flashbacks
D. Avoiding places that remind one of the trauma
Rationale: Avoidance of trauma reminders helps maintain disorder.
15. Which medication is first‐line for PTSD?
A. Benzodiazepines
B. Mood stabilizers
C. SSRIs (e.g., sertraline)
D. Antipsychotics
Rationale: SSRIs reduce re‐experiencing and depressive symptoms in PTSD.
Eating Disorders
MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 3 UPDATED EXAM WITH MOST
TESTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | GRADED A+ | ASSURED
SUCCESS WITH DETAILED RATIONALE
Bipolar Disorder Pharmacotherapy
1. A nurse preparing pharmacotherapy for a client with bipolar disorder knows the goals include
(Select all that apply):
A. Cure of the disorder
B. Decreased frequency of manic episodes
C. Decreased severity of manic episodes
D. Rapid control of symptoms
E. Prevention of future episodes
Rationale: Pharmacotherapy manages—not cures—bipolar by stabilizing mood and preventing
relapse.
2. Which agent is the mainstay of bipolar disorder treatment? (Select all that apply)
A. Divalproex
B. Lamotrigine
C. Carbamazepine
D. Lithium carbonate
E. Fluoxetine
Rationale: Mood stabilizers (lithium, anticonvulsants) are first-line; SSRIs are used cautiously.
3. The nurse monitors which lab for lithium therapy safety?
A. Liver function tests
B. Serum lithium levels
C. Complete blood count
D. Blood glucose
Rationale: Lithium has a narrow therapeutic index; levels guide dosing and toxicity.
4. Early signs of lithium toxicity include (Select all that apply):
A. Nausea and vomiting
B. Coarse tremor
C. Drowsiness only
D. Seizures
Rationale: GI upset and tremors often precede severe toxicity.
5. Which side effect requires immediate intervention when a client starts valproate?
A. Weight gain
B. Nausea
C. Right upper-quadrant pain
,ESTUDYR
D. Drowsiness
Rationale: RUQ pain suggests hepatic injury, a rare but serious AE of valproate.
Anxiety & Neurotransmitters
6. A client panicking in group therapy reports palpitations. Which neurotransmitter is primarily
involved?
A. Serotonin
B. GABA
C. Acetylcholine
D. Norepinephrine
Rationale: NE mediates fight-or-flight responses, causing tachycardia and palpitations.
7. Benzodiazepines relieve anxiety by enhancing:
A. Dopamine
B. GABA
C. Serotonin
D. Glutamate
Rationale: Benzodiazepines potentiate GABA’s inhibitory effects in the CNS.
8. Buspirone is effective for chronic anxiety and works on:
A. GABA receptors
B. Serotonin (5-HT₁A) receptors
C. Dopamine receptors
D. Histamine receptors
Rationale: Buspirone is a serotonin agonist without sedation or dependence.
9. A client on SSRIs for anxiety develops restlessness, diaphoresis, and tremor. The nurse suspects:
A. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
B. Serotonin syndrome
C. Anticholinergic toxicity
D. Hypertensive crisis
Rationale: Serotonin syndrome includes autonomic instability and neuromuscular excitement.
10. Which dietary supplement may precipitate serotonin syndrome with SSRIs?
A. Fish oil
B. St. John’s wort
C. Valerian root
D. 5-HTP
Rationale: 5-HTP increases serotonin synthesis, risking excess with SSRIs.
, ESTUDYR
PTSD & Dissociative Disorders
11. Client behaviors characteristic of PTSD include (Select all that apply):
A. Extreme forgetfulness
B. Shouting and throwing objects out of anger
C. Causing self-injury
D. Decreased appetite
E. Inability to concentrate on studies
Rationale: Hyperarousal and impaired concentration are core PTSD symptoms; self-harm may
occur.
12. A PTSD client dissociates and fails to recognize personal info during aggression. This indicates:
A. Dissociative amnesia
B. Avoidance behavior
C. Dissociative identity disorder
D. Depersonalization disorder
Rationale: In DID, alternate identities can emerge with amnestic barriers.
13. Which intervention is essential in PTSD care?
A. Encourage avoidance of triggers
B. Use as‐needed benzodiazepines only
C. Trauma‐focused CBT
D. Hypnotherapy
Rationale: Trauma‐focused therapies (e.g., CBT, EMDR) are evidence‐based for PTSD.
14. In PTSD, avoidance symptoms include:
A. Insomnia
B. Hypervigilance
C. Flashbacks
D. Avoiding places that remind one of the trauma
Rationale: Avoidance of trauma reminders helps maintain disorder.
15. Which medication is first‐line for PTSD?
A. Benzodiazepines
B. Mood stabilizers
C. SSRIs (e.g., sertraline)
D. Antipsychotics
Rationale: SSRIs reduce re‐experiencing and depressive symptoms in PTSD.
Eating Disorders
