PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
10TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SHEILA L. VIDEBECK
TEST BANK
UNIT 1 — CURRENT THEORIES & PRACTICE
Question 1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing — Mental Health and Mental Illness
Stem: A nurse is conducting an initial assessment of a new
client in the community mental health clinic. The client, who
was recently discharged from a corporate job, states, "I just
don't fit in anywhere anymore. My thoughts don't make sense
to others, and I can't find the energy to care." Using the DSM-5-
TR as a guide, which statement by the nurse best reflects the
primary purpose of this diagnostic tool in planning this client's
,care?
A. "The DSM-5-TR will help us determine which psychological
theory best explains the root cause of your distress."
B. "It provides a standardized set of criteria to identify specific
disorders, which helps guide our treatment approach."
C. "Its main function is to ensure insurance companies will
provide reimbursement for the services you receive here."
D. "We use it to compare your symptoms to societal norms and
define what is considered culturally acceptable behavior."
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): The primary purpose of the DSM-5-TR is to
provide a common language and standard criteria for the
classification of mental disorders. This facilitates accurate
diagnosis, which is the essential first step in developing an
evidence-based, individualized plan of care and selecting
appropriate interventions. Videbeck emphasizes its use as
a tool for communication among professionals and for
guiding treatment.
• Incorrect (A): While understanding theoretical
underpinnings is important for nurses, the DSM-5-TR is
atheoretical regarding etiology. It focuses on describing
symptoms and diagnostic criteria, not on identifying the
root cause from a specific psychological or biological
perspective.
, • Incorrect (C): While accurate diagnosis often has
implications for reimbursement, this is a secondary
function, not the primary clinical purpose of the manual.
The nurse's focus should be on clinical utility, not financial
factors.
• Incorrect (D): The DSM-5-TR explicitly cautions against
using societal norms alone to define disorder, as this can
pathologize cultural or political differences. It requires that
symptoms cause clinically significant distress or
impairment in functioning, not merely that they deviate
from a norm.
Teaching Point: The DSM-5-TR provides standardized diagnostic
criteria to guide clinical treatment, not to explain etiology or
enforce social norms.
Citation: Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric-Mental Health
Nursing (10th ed.). Ch. 1.
Question 2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing — Mental Health and Mental Illness
Stem: During a seminar on mental health, a nursing student
asks, "How can we best define mental health in a way that
applies to all clients?" Which response by the instructor,
consistent with contemporary psychiatric nursing, is most
accurate?
, A. "Mental health is best defined as the complete absence of
any anxiety, depressive, or psychotic symptoms."
B. "It is a state of well-being where an individual realizes their
potential, copes with stress, works productively, and
contributes to their community."
C. "Mental health is primarily indicated by a person's ability to
conform to the prevailing social norms of their cultural group."
D. "It is defined by achieving a perfect balance between one's
id, ego, and superego, as described in Freudian psychoanalysis."
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): This definition, aligned with the World Health
Organization and modern nursing perspectives, views
mental health positively and holistically. It focuses on
strengths, functionality, resilience, and the ability to
engage in meaningful life activities, rather than just the
absence of illness.
• Incorrect (A): This is an unrealistic and inaccurate goal.
Mental health is not about the total absence of emotional
pain or stress but involves the effective management of
such experiences.
• Incorrect (C): While culture is critically important,
conformity alone is not a valid indicator of health. Non-
conformity may be healthy, and some social norms can be
10TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SHEILA L. VIDEBECK
TEST BANK
UNIT 1 — CURRENT THEORIES & PRACTICE
Question 1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing — Mental Health and Mental Illness
Stem: A nurse is conducting an initial assessment of a new
client in the community mental health clinic. The client, who
was recently discharged from a corporate job, states, "I just
don't fit in anywhere anymore. My thoughts don't make sense
to others, and I can't find the energy to care." Using the DSM-5-
TR as a guide, which statement by the nurse best reflects the
primary purpose of this diagnostic tool in planning this client's
,care?
A. "The DSM-5-TR will help us determine which psychological
theory best explains the root cause of your distress."
B. "It provides a standardized set of criteria to identify specific
disorders, which helps guide our treatment approach."
C. "Its main function is to ensure insurance companies will
provide reimbursement for the services you receive here."
D. "We use it to compare your symptoms to societal norms and
define what is considered culturally acceptable behavior."
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): The primary purpose of the DSM-5-TR is to
provide a common language and standard criteria for the
classification of mental disorders. This facilitates accurate
diagnosis, which is the essential first step in developing an
evidence-based, individualized plan of care and selecting
appropriate interventions. Videbeck emphasizes its use as
a tool for communication among professionals and for
guiding treatment.
• Incorrect (A): While understanding theoretical
underpinnings is important for nurses, the DSM-5-TR is
atheoretical regarding etiology. It focuses on describing
symptoms and diagnostic criteria, not on identifying the
root cause from a specific psychological or biological
perspective.
, • Incorrect (C): While accurate diagnosis often has
implications for reimbursement, this is a secondary
function, not the primary clinical purpose of the manual.
The nurse's focus should be on clinical utility, not financial
factors.
• Incorrect (D): The DSM-5-TR explicitly cautions against
using societal norms alone to define disorder, as this can
pathologize cultural or political differences. It requires that
symptoms cause clinically significant distress or
impairment in functioning, not merely that they deviate
from a norm.
Teaching Point: The DSM-5-TR provides standardized diagnostic
criteria to guide clinical treatment, not to explain etiology or
enforce social norms.
Citation: Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric-Mental Health
Nursing (10th ed.). Ch. 1.
Question 2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing — Mental Health and Mental Illness
Stem: During a seminar on mental health, a nursing student
asks, "How can we best define mental health in a way that
applies to all clients?" Which response by the instructor,
consistent with contemporary psychiatric nursing, is most
accurate?
, A. "Mental health is best defined as the complete absence of
any anxiety, depressive, or psychotic symptoms."
B. "It is a state of well-being where an individual realizes their
potential, copes with stress, works productively, and
contributes to their community."
C. "Mental health is primarily indicated by a person's ability to
conform to the prevailing social norms of their cultural group."
D. "It is defined by achieving a perfect balance between one's
id, ego, and superego, as described in Freudian psychoanalysis."
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): This definition, aligned with the World Health
Organization and modern nursing perspectives, views
mental health positively and holistically. It focuses on
strengths, functionality, resilience, and the ability to
engage in meaningful life activities, rather than just the
absence of illness.
• Incorrect (A): This is an unrealistic and inaccurate goal.
Mental health is not about the total absence of emotional
pain or stress but involves the effective management of
such experiences.
• Incorrect (C): While culture is critically important,
conformity alone is not a valid indicator of health. Non-
conformity may be healthy, and some social norms can be
