1|Page
Prep U's - Chapter 1 - Mental Health and Mental Disorders:
Fighting Stigma and Promoting Recovery
A nurse is collaborating with a team of researchers to
determine the annual incidence of schizophrenia is the
community. In order to calculate the incidence, the team must
know: - ANSWER Answer: the prevalence of schizophrenia at
the beginning of the year and the end of the year.
Rationale: Incidence is determined by subtracting the number
of cases at the beginning of a year from the number at the end
of the year. Point prevalence at a particular time is insufficient.
It is unnecessary to know residents' odds of developing the
disease or the length of time since diagnosis.
Epidemiology addresses the distribution of mental illness and
the determinants of health within a given population. Which
term is defined as the rate of new cases within a defined time
period? - ANSWER Answer: incidence.
Rationale: Incidence refers to a rate that includes only new
cases that have occurred within a clearly defined time period.
Prevalence refers to the total number of people who have the
,2|Page
disorder within a given population at a specified time,
regardless of how long ago the disorder started. Rate is a
proportion of cases in a population compared with the total
population. Point prevalence is a basic measure that refers to
the proportion of individuals in a population who have a
disorder at a specified time.
A psychiatric-mental health nurse working at a community
mental health center is using epidemiological data to plan the
development of programs for the population in the future.
Based on the nurse's knowledge associated with disease
projections and the leading burden of disease, the nurse would
work on developing programs for which condition?
A. Depression
B. Generalized anxiety disorder.
C. PTSD
D. Schizophrenia - ANSWER Answer: A; depression.
Rationale: Epidemiological data suggests that depression is
projected to be the leading burden of disease by the year 2030.
Therefore, planning programs to address depression, not
,3|Page
generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress syndrome or
schizophrenia, would be important.
A psychiatric-mental health nurse is developing the plan of care
for a client with a mental disorder. The nurse reviews the
client's assessment data. Which finding would the nurse
identify as contributing to a more difficult recovery? - ANSWER
Answer: self-care dependence
Rationale: The amount of disability or impairment in
functioning is an important consideration when assessing a
person with a mental disorder. A person's ability to understand,
communicate, and get along with others is important in the
recovery process. If symptoms impair an individual's ability to
independently perform self-care and daily activities, recovery
will be more difficult. Compliance with medications, interest in
social interaction and positive family support would be factors
that promote recovery.
One of the best ways to counteract the negative effects of
stigma is to do which of the following? - ANSWER Answer: Have
contact with the stigmatized group.
, 4|Page
Rationale: One of the best ways to counteract the negative
effects of stigma is to have contact with the stigmatized group.
Another way is to use nonstigmatizing language. Jokes that
depict people with mental illness as stupid, dangerous, or
incompetent perpetuate negative myths.
It is not uncommon for new psychiatric mental health students
to be fearful of interacting with individuals suffering from
mental illness. The fear and misunderstanding of those with
mental illness is known as which of the following? - ANSWER
Answer: stigma.
Rationale: Many students new to psychiatric-mental health
nursing are afraid, because they do not know what they will
encounter, or because they have preconceived ideas about
mental illness. Mental illnesses still carry stigma (widespread
fear and misunderstanding of mental illness).
A client has sought care for a prolonged history of depressed
mood and has been diagnosed with major depression. The
client is readily open to beginning pharmacologic treatment but
is unwilling to attend a support group, despite easy geographic
access and a flexible schedule. What explanation for the client's
Prep U's - Chapter 1 - Mental Health and Mental Disorders:
Fighting Stigma and Promoting Recovery
A nurse is collaborating with a team of researchers to
determine the annual incidence of schizophrenia is the
community. In order to calculate the incidence, the team must
know: - ANSWER Answer: the prevalence of schizophrenia at
the beginning of the year and the end of the year.
Rationale: Incidence is determined by subtracting the number
of cases at the beginning of a year from the number at the end
of the year. Point prevalence at a particular time is insufficient.
It is unnecessary to know residents' odds of developing the
disease or the length of time since diagnosis.
Epidemiology addresses the distribution of mental illness and
the determinants of health within a given population. Which
term is defined as the rate of new cases within a defined time
period? - ANSWER Answer: incidence.
Rationale: Incidence refers to a rate that includes only new
cases that have occurred within a clearly defined time period.
Prevalence refers to the total number of people who have the
,2|Page
disorder within a given population at a specified time,
regardless of how long ago the disorder started. Rate is a
proportion of cases in a population compared with the total
population. Point prevalence is a basic measure that refers to
the proportion of individuals in a population who have a
disorder at a specified time.
A psychiatric-mental health nurse working at a community
mental health center is using epidemiological data to plan the
development of programs for the population in the future.
Based on the nurse's knowledge associated with disease
projections and the leading burden of disease, the nurse would
work on developing programs for which condition?
A. Depression
B. Generalized anxiety disorder.
C. PTSD
D. Schizophrenia - ANSWER Answer: A; depression.
Rationale: Epidemiological data suggests that depression is
projected to be the leading burden of disease by the year 2030.
Therefore, planning programs to address depression, not
,3|Page
generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress syndrome or
schizophrenia, would be important.
A psychiatric-mental health nurse is developing the plan of care
for a client with a mental disorder. The nurse reviews the
client's assessment data. Which finding would the nurse
identify as contributing to a more difficult recovery? - ANSWER
Answer: self-care dependence
Rationale: The amount of disability or impairment in
functioning is an important consideration when assessing a
person with a mental disorder. A person's ability to understand,
communicate, and get along with others is important in the
recovery process. If symptoms impair an individual's ability to
independently perform self-care and daily activities, recovery
will be more difficult. Compliance with medications, interest in
social interaction and positive family support would be factors
that promote recovery.
One of the best ways to counteract the negative effects of
stigma is to do which of the following? - ANSWER Answer: Have
contact with the stigmatized group.
, 4|Page
Rationale: One of the best ways to counteract the negative
effects of stigma is to have contact with the stigmatized group.
Another way is to use nonstigmatizing language. Jokes that
depict people with mental illness as stupid, dangerous, or
incompetent perpetuate negative myths.
It is not uncommon for new psychiatric mental health students
to be fearful of interacting with individuals suffering from
mental illness. The fear and misunderstanding of those with
mental illness is known as which of the following? - ANSWER
Answer: stigma.
Rationale: Many students new to psychiatric-mental health
nursing are afraid, because they do not know what they will
encounter, or because they have preconceived ideas about
mental illness. Mental illnesses still carry stigma (widespread
fear and misunderstanding of mental illness).
A client has sought care for a prolonged history of depressed
mood and has been diagnosed with major depression. The
client is readily open to beginning pharmacologic treatment but
is unwilling to attend a support group, despite easy geographic
access and a flexible schedule. What explanation for the client's
