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b Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications 5th
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Edition Test Bank
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, Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology Neuroscientific Basis and Practical
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Applications 5th Edition Test Bank b b
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Chapter 1 Chemical neurotransmission
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MULTIPLE CHOICE
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1. A patient with depression mentions to the nurse, My mother says depression is a chemical
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disorder. What does she mean? The nurses response is based on the theory that depression
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primarily involves which of the following neurotransmitters?
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a. Cortisol and GABA b b
b. COMT and glutamate b b
c. Monamine and glycine b b
d. Serotonin and norepinephrine b b
ANS: D
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One possible cause of depression is thought to involve one or more neurotransmitters. Serotonin
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and norepinephrine have been found to be important in the regulation of depression. There is no
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research to support that the other options play a significant role in the development of depression.
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2. A patient has experienced a stroke (cerebral vascular accident) that has resulted in damage
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to the Broca area. Which evaluation does the nurse conduct to reinforce this diagnosis?
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a. Observing the patient pick up a spoon b b b b b b
b. Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
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c. Monitoring the patients blood pressure b b b b
d. Comparing the patients grip strength in both hands b b b b b b b
ANS: B
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Accidents or strokes that damage Brocas area may result in the inability to speak (i.e., motor aphasia).
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Fine motor skills, blood pressure control, and muscle strength are not controlled by the Broca area of
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the left frontal lobe.
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3. The patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks why psychotropic medications are always
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prescribed by the doctor. The nurses answer will be based on information that the therapeutic action
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of psychotropic drugs is the result of their effect on:
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a. The temporal lobe; especially Wernickes area
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,b. Dendrites and their ability to transmit electrical impulses
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c. The regulation of neurotransmitters especially dopamine
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d. The peripheral nervous system sensitivity to the psychotropic medications
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ANS: C b
Medications used to treat psychiatric disorders operate in and around the synaptic cleft and have
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action at the neurotransmitter level, especially in the case of schizophrenia, on dopamine. The
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Wernickes area, dendrite function, or the sensitivity of the peripheral nervous system are not
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relevant to either schizophrenia or psychotropic medications.
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4. A student nurse mutters that it seems entirely unnecessary to have to struggle with
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understanding the anatomy and physiology of the neurologic system. The mentor would base
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a response on the understanding that it is:
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a. Necessary but generally for psychiatric nurses who focus primarily on behavioral interventions
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b. A complex undertaking that advance practice psychiatric nurses frequently use in their practice
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c. Important primarily for the nursing assessment of patients with brain traumacaused
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cognitive symptoms
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d. Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients especially those experiencing
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psychiatric disorders
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ANS: D b
Nurses must understand that many symptoms of psychiatric disorders have a neurologic basis,
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although the symptoms are manifested behaviorally. This understanding facilitates effective care
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planning. The foundation of knowledge is not used exclusively by advanced practice psychiatric nurses
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nor is it relevant for only behavior therapies or brain trauma since dealing with the results of normal
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and abnormal brain function is a responsibility of all nurses providing all types of care to the
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psychiatric patient.
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5. A patient asks the nurse, My wife has breast cancer. Could it be caused by her
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chronic depression? Which response is supported by research data?
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, a. Too much stress has been proven to cause all kinds of cancer.
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b. There have been no research studies done on stress and disease yet.
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c. Stress does cause the release of factors that suppress the immune system.
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d. There appears to be little connection between stress and diseases of the
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body ANS: C
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Research indicates that stress causes a release of corticotropin-releasing factors that suppress the
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immune system. Studies indicate that psychiatric disorders such as mood disorders are sometimes
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associated with decreased functioning of the immune system. Research does not support a connection
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between many cancers and stress. There is a significant amount of research about stress and the body.
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Research has shown that there are some connections between stress and physical disease.
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6. A patient who has a parietal lobe injury is being evaluated for psychiatric rehabilitation
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needs. Of the aspects of functioning listed, which will the nurse identify as a focus of nursing
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intervention?
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a. Expression of emotion b b
b. Detecting auditory stimuli b b
c. Receiving visual images b b
d. Processing associations b
ANS: D
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The parietal lobe is responsible for associating and processing sensory information that allows for
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functions such as following directions on a map, reading a clock, dressing self, keeping appointments,
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and distinguishing right from left. Emotional expression is associated with frontal lobe function.
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Detecting auditory stimuli is a temporal lobe function. Receiving visual images is related to occipital lobe
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function.
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7. At admission, the nurse learns that some time ago the patient had an infarct in the
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right cerebral cortex. During assessment, the nurse would expect to find that the patient:
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a. Demonstrates major deficiencies in speech b b b b
b. Is unable to effectively hold a spoon in the left hand
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c. Has difficulty explaining how to go about using the telephone
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d. Cannot use his right hand to shave himself or comb his own hair
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