Updated/Latest Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing 9th Edition by Sheila L Videbeck 2025–2026 Comprehensive Test Bank Questions and Answers for Mental Health Nursing Examination Preparation Psychiatric Nursing Therapeutic Communication Clinical Judgment and

Test Bank For Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing 9th Edition
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Chapter 1 L



1. The nurse is assessing the factors contributing to the well-
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being of a newly admitted client. Which of the following
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would the nurse identify as having a positive impact onthe
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Lindividual's mental health? L L



A) Not needing others for companionship L L L L



B) The ability to effectively manage stress L L L L L



C) A family history of mental illness
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D) Striving for total self-reliance L L L



LAns: B L



Feedback:
Individual factors influencing mental health include L L L L L



Lbiologic makeup, autonomy, independence, self-esteem,
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capacity for growth, vitality, ability to find meaning in life,
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emotional resilience or hardiness, sense of belonging,
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reality orientation, and coping or stress management
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abilities. Interpersonal factors such as intimacy and a
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Lbalance of separateness and connectedness are both needed
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for good mental health, and therefore ahealthy person would need others for
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companionship. A family history of mental illnesscould relate to the biologic makeup
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of an individual, which may have a negative impacton an individual's mental health, as
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well as a negative impact on an individual's interpersonal and socialñcultural factors of
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Lhealth. Total self-reliance is not possible, and a positive social/cultural factor is access
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to adequate resources.
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2. Which of the following statements about mental illness are true? Select all that apply.
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A) Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both.
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B) Mental illness is only due to social/cultural factors. L L L L L L L



C) Social/cultural factors that relate to mental illness include excessive dependency L L L L L L L L L



on or withdrawal from relationships.
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D) Individuals suffering from mental illness are usually able to cope effectively with L L L L L L L L L L L



daily life. L L



E) Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with L L L L L L L L



relationships and self.
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Ans: A, D, E L L L



Feedback:
Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both. Mental
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illness may be related to individual, interpersonal, or social/cultural factors. Excessive
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dependency on or withdrawal from relationships are interpersonal factors that relate to
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mental illness. Individuals suffering from mental illness can feel overwhelmed with
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daily life. Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with
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relationships and self.
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,3. Which of the following are true regarding mental health and mental illness?
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A) Behavior that may be viewed as acceptable in one culture is always unacceptable L L L L L L L L L L L L



in other cultures. L L L



B) It is easy to determine if a person is mentally healthy or mentally ill.
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C) In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and social
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wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective behavior
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and coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability.
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D) Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill. L L L L L L L



Ans: C
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Feedback:
What one society may view as acceptable and appropriate behavior, another society may
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see that as maladaptive, and inappropriate. Mental health and mental illness are difficult
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to define precisely. In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological,
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and social wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective
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behavior and coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability. Persons who engage
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in fantasies may be mentally healthy, but the inability to distinguish reality from fantasy
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is an individual factor that may contribute to mental illness.
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4. A client grieving the recent loss of her husband asks if she is becoming mentally ill
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because she is so sad. The nurse's best response would be,
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A) ìYou may have a temporary mental illness because you are experiencing so much
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pain.î L



B) ìYou are not mentally ill. This is an expected reaction to the loss you have
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experienced.î L



C) ìWere you generally dissatisfied with your relationship before your husband's
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death?î L



D) ìTry not to worry about that right now. You never know what the future brings.î
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Ans: B
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Feedback:
Mental illness includes general dissatisfaction with self, ineffective relationships,
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ineffective coping, and lack of personal growth. Additionally the behavior must not be
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culturally expected. Acute grief reactions are expected and therefore not considered
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mental illness. False reassurance or overanalysis does not accurately address the client's
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concerns.
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,5. The nurse consults the DSM for which of the following purposes?
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A) To devise a plan of care for a newly admitted client
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B) To predict the client's prognosis of treatment outcomes
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C) To document the appropriate diagnostic code in the client's medical record
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D) To serve as a guide for client assessment
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Ans: D L



Feedback:
The DSM provides standard nomenclature, presents defining characteristics, and
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Lidentifies underlying causes of mental disorders. It does not provide care plans or
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Lprognostic outcomes of treatment. Diagnosis of mental illness is not within the
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Lgeneralist RN's scope of practice, so documenting the code in the medical record would
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Lbe inappropriate.
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6. Which would be a reason for a student nurse to use the DSM?
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A) Identifying the medical diagnosis L L L



B) Treat clients L



C) Evaluate treatments L



D) Understand the reason for the admission and the nature of psychiatric illnesses.
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Ans: D L



Feedback:
Although student nurses do not use the DSM to diagnose clients, they will find it a
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helpful resource to understand the reason for the admission and to begin building
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knowledge about the nature of psychiatric illnesses. Identifying the medical diagnosis,
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treating, and evaluating treatments are not a part of the nursing process.
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7. The legislation enacted in 1963 was largely responsible for which of the following shifts
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in care for the mentally ill?
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A) The widespread use of community-based services
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B) The advancement in pharmacotherapies L L L



C) Increased access to hospitalization L L L



D) Improved rights for clients in long-term institutional care L L L L L L L



Ans: A
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Feedback:
The Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act of 1963 accomplished the
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release of individuals from long-term stays in state institutions, the decrease in
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admissions to hospitals, and the development of community-based services as an
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alternative to hospital care.
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, 8. Which one of the following is a result of federal legislation?
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A) Making it easier to commit people for mental health treatment against their will.
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B) Making it more difficult to commit people for mental health treatment against
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their will.
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C) State mental institutions being the primary source of care for mentally ill persons.
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D) Improved care for mentally ill persons. L L L L L



Ans: B
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Feedback:
Commitment laws changed in the early 1970s, making it more difficult to commit
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people for mental health treatment against their will. Deinstitutionalization
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accomplished the release of individuals from long-term stays in state institutions.
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Deinstitutionalization also had negative effects in that some mentally ill persons are
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subjected to the revolving door effect, which may limit care for mentally ill persons.
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9. The goal of the 1963 Community Mental Health Centers Act was to
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A) ensure patients' rights for the mentally ill. L L L L L L



B) deinstitutionalize state hospitals. L L



C) provide funds to build hospitals with psychiatric units. L L L L L L L



D) treat people with mental illness in a humane fashion.
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Ans: B
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Feedback:
The 1963 Community Mental Health Centers Act intimated the movement toward
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treating those with mental illness in a less restrictive environment. This legislation
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resulted in the shift of clients with mental illness from large state institutions to care
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based in the community. Answer choices A, C, and D were not purposes of the 1963
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Community Mental Health Centers Act.
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10. The creation of asylums during the 1800s was meant to
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A) improve treatment of mental disorders. L L L L



B) provide food and shelter for the mentally ill. L L L L L L L



C) punish people with mental illness who were believed to be possessed.
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D) remove dangerous people with mental illness from the community.
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Ans: B
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Feedback:
The asylum was meant to be a safe haven with food, shelter, and humane treatment for the
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mentally ill. Asylums were not used to improve treatment of mental disorders or to punish
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mentally ill people who were believed to be possessed. The asylum was not created to
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remove the dangerously mentally ill from the community.
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