1
Morgan
Townsend’s Essentials PMHN 10e
Test Bank
Chapter 1: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. A nurse is assessing a client who experiences occasional feelings of sadness
because of the recent death of a beloved pet. The client’s appetite, sleep
patterns, and daily routine have not changed. How would the nurse interpret the
client’s behavior?
1. The client’s behaviors demonstrate mental illness in the form of depression.
2. The client’s behaviors are inappropriate, which indicates the presence of
mental illness.
3. The client’s behaviors are not congruent with cultural norms.
4. The client’s behaviors demonstrate no functional impairment, indicating no
mental illness.
____ 2. At which point would the nurse determine that a client is at risk for developing a
mental illness?
1. When thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are not reflective of the criteria for
mental illness
2. When maladaptive responses to stress are coupled with interference in daily
functioning
3. When a client communicates significant distress
4. When a client uses defense mechanisms as ego protection
Copyright © 2026
,Morgan 2
Townsend’s Essentials PMHN 10e
Test Bank
____ 3. Which response occurs during the alarm reaction stage of Selye’s general
adaptation syndrome?
1. The body's fight-or-flight response is activated.
2. The individual successfully adapts to the stressor.
3. The body's adaptive energy becomes depleted.
4. Homeostasis is immediately restored.
____ 4. The nurse notes that a client is extremely withdrawn, delusional, and
emotionally exhausted. The nurse assesses the client’s anxiety at which level?
1. Mild anxiety
2. Moderate anxiety
3. Severe anxiety
4. Panic anxiety
____ 5. The psychiatric nurse intern states, “This client’s use of defense mechanisms
should be eliminated.” Which is a correct evaluation of this nurse’s statement?
1. Defense mechanisms can be appropriate responses to stress and need not be
eliminated.
2. Defense mechanisms are a maladaptive attempt of the ego to manage
anxiety and should always be eliminated.
3. Defense mechanisms, used by individuals with weak ego integrity, should
be discouraged and not completely eliminated.
4. Defense mechanisms cause disintegration of the ego and should be fostered
and encouraged.
Copyright © 2026
,Morgan 3
Townsend’s Essentials PMHN 10e
Test Bank
____ 6. During an intake assessment, the nurse asks both physiological and
psychosocial questions. The client angrily responds, “I’m here for my heart, not
my head problems.” Which response by the nurse is the best?
1. “It is just a routine part of our assessment. All clients are asked these same
questions.”
2. “Why are you concerned about these types of questions?”
3. “Psychological factors, like excessive stress, have been found to affect
medical conditions.”
4. “We can skip these questions, if you like. It isn’t imperative that we
complete this section.”
____ 7. A client who is being treated for chronic kidney disease complains to the health-
care provider that they do not like the food available to them while hospitalized.
The health-care provider insists that the client strictly adhere to the diet plan.
What action can be expected if the client uses the defense mechanism of
displacement?
1. The client assertively confronts the health-care provider.
2. The client insists on being discharged and goes for a long, brisk walk.
3. The client snaps at the nurse and criticizes the nursing care provided.
4. The client hides their anger by explaining the logical reasoning for the diet
to their spouse.
____ 8. A fourth-grade boy teases and makes jokes about a cute girl in his class. The
nurse would recognize this behavior as indicative of which defense mechanism?
1. Displacement
2. Projection
3. Reaction formation
4. Sublimation
Copyright © 2026
, Morgan 4
Townsend’s Essentials PMHN 10e
Test Bank
____ 9. Which nursing statement regarding the concept of psychosis is most accurate?
1. Individuals experiencing psychoses are aware that their behaviors are
maladaptive.
2. Individuals experiencing psychoses experience little distress.
3. Individuals experiencing psychoses are aware of experiencing psychological
problems.
4. Individuals experiencing psychoses are based in reality.
____ 10. When under stress, a client routinely uses alcohol to excess. When the client’s
spouse finds them drunk, the spouse yells at the client about their chronic
alcohol abuse. Which action alerts the nurse to the client’s use of the defense
mechanism of denial?
1. The client hides liquor bottles in a closet.
2. The client yells at their child for slouching in their chair.
3. The client burns dinner on purpose.
4. The client says to the spouse, “I don’t drink too much!”
____ 11. The nurse is assessing a client who is in the stage of resistance in Selye’s
general adaptation syndrome. Which findings are consistent with this stage?
1. The client experiences a sudden increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and
rapid breathing in response to a stressful situation.
2. The client has developed ulcers and frequent respiratory infections due to
prolonged stress.
3. The client exhibits muscle tension and heightened alertness in reaction to a
specific stressful event.
4. The client reports feeling exhausted and unable to cope with stress, leading
to decreased functioning.
Copyright © 2026
Morgan
Townsend’s Essentials PMHN 10e
Test Bank
Chapter 1: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. A nurse is assessing a client who experiences occasional feelings of sadness
because of the recent death of a beloved pet. The client’s appetite, sleep
patterns, and daily routine have not changed. How would the nurse interpret the
client’s behavior?
1. The client’s behaviors demonstrate mental illness in the form of depression.
2. The client’s behaviors are inappropriate, which indicates the presence of
mental illness.
3. The client’s behaviors are not congruent with cultural norms.
4. The client’s behaviors demonstrate no functional impairment, indicating no
mental illness.
____ 2. At which point would the nurse determine that a client is at risk for developing a
mental illness?
1. When thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are not reflective of the criteria for
mental illness
2. When maladaptive responses to stress are coupled with interference in daily
functioning
3. When a client communicates significant distress
4. When a client uses defense mechanisms as ego protection
Copyright © 2026
,Morgan 2
Townsend’s Essentials PMHN 10e
Test Bank
____ 3. Which response occurs during the alarm reaction stage of Selye’s general
adaptation syndrome?
1. The body's fight-or-flight response is activated.
2. The individual successfully adapts to the stressor.
3. The body's adaptive energy becomes depleted.
4. Homeostasis is immediately restored.
____ 4. The nurse notes that a client is extremely withdrawn, delusional, and
emotionally exhausted. The nurse assesses the client’s anxiety at which level?
1. Mild anxiety
2. Moderate anxiety
3. Severe anxiety
4. Panic anxiety
____ 5. The psychiatric nurse intern states, “This client’s use of defense mechanisms
should be eliminated.” Which is a correct evaluation of this nurse’s statement?
1. Defense mechanisms can be appropriate responses to stress and need not be
eliminated.
2. Defense mechanisms are a maladaptive attempt of the ego to manage
anxiety and should always be eliminated.
3. Defense mechanisms, used by individuals with weak ego integrity, should
be discouraged and not completely eliminated.
4. Defense mechanisms cause disintegration of the ego and should be fostered
and encouraged.
Copyright © 2026
,Morgan 3
Townsend’s Essentials PMHN 10e
Test Bank
____ 6. During an intake assessment, the nurse asks both physiological and
psychosocial questions. The client angrily responds, “I’m here for my heart, not
my head problems.” Which response by the nurse is the best?
1. “It is just a routine part of our assessment. All clients are asked these same
questions.”
2. “Why are you concerned about these types of questions?”
3. “Psychological factors, like excessive stress, have been found to affect
medical conditions.”
4. “We can skip these questions, if you like. It isn’t imperative that we
complete this section.”
____ 7. A client who is being treated for chronic kidney disease complains to the health-
care provider that they do not like the food available to them while hospitalized.
The health-care provider insists that the client strictly adhere to the diet plan.
What action can be expected if the client uses the defense mechanism of
displacement?
1. The client assertively confronts the health-care provider.
2. The client insists on being discharged and goes for a long, brisk walk.
3. The client snaps at the nurse and criticizes the nursing care provided.
4. The client hides their anger by explaining the logical reasoning for the diet
to their spouse.
____ 8. A fourth-grade boy teases and makes jokes about a cute girl in his class. The
nurse would recognize this behavior as indicative of which defense mechanism?
1. Displacement
2. Projection
3. Reaction formation
4. Sublimation
Copyright © 2026
, Morgan 4
Townsend’s Essentials PMHN 10e
Test Bank
____ 9. Which nursing statement regarding the concept of psychosis is most accurate?
1. Individuals experiencing psychoses are aware that their behaviors are
maladaptive.
2. Individuals experiencing psychoses experience little distress.
3. Individuals experiencing psychoses are aware of experiencing psychological
problems.
4. Individuals experiencing psychoses are based in reality.
____ 10. When under stress, a client routinely uses alcohol to excess. When the client’s
spouse finds them drunk, the spouse yells at the client about their chronic
alcohol abuse. Which action alerts the nurse to the client’s use of the defense
mechanism of denial?
1. The client hides liquor bottles in a closet.
2. The client yells at their child for slouching in their chair.
3. The client burns dinner on purpose.
4. The client says to the spouse, “I don’t drink too much!”
____ 11. The nurse is assessing a client who is in the stage of resistance in Selye’s
general adaptation syndrome. Which findings are consistent with this stage?
1. The client experiences a sudden increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and
rapid breathing in response to a stressful situation.
2. The client has developed ulcers and frequent respiratory infections due to
prolonged stress.
3. The client exhibits muscle tension and heightened alertness in reaction to a
specific stressful event.
4. The client reports feeling exhausted and unable to cope with stress, leading
to decreased functioning.
Copyright © 2026
