NSG 526 Exam 2 | 136 Q&A | NSG 526: Clinical
Modalities in Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health
Nursing Practice | Question with Answers and
Rationale | Graded A+ | New Update 2026/2027
1. Which one of the following is the focus of interpersonal therapy?
A) Anxiety management
B) Belief systems
C) Faulty cognitions
D) Social interaction
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Interpersonal therapy (IPT) focuses on social interaction and
interpersonal relationships. IPT was founded by Adolph Meyer and Harry Stack
Sullivan and is based on the assumption that psychiatric disorders (particularly
depression) are influenced by interpersonal interactions and the social context.
The goal of IPT is to reduce or eliminate psychiatric symptoms by improving
interpersonal functioning and satisfaction with social relationships. IPT addresses
four identified problem areas: grief, role disputes, role transition, and
interpersonal deficits. This distinguishes IPT from cognitive therapy (which focuses
on belief systems and faulty cognitions) and anxiety management techniques.
2. A patient tells the psychiatric advanced practice nurse she is going to try
supplementing her selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor with St. John's wort.
Which action should the psychiatric advanced practice nurse take first?
A) Assess the patient for depression and risk for suicide.
B) Suggest that aromatherapy may produce even better results.
C) Advise her of the danger of serotonin syndrome.
,D) Suggest she consider decreasing the dosage of her antidepressant.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse should first advise the patient of the danger of serotonin
syndrome. St. John's wort, an herbal supplement commonly used for depression,
can interact dangerously with SSRIs by increasing serotonin levels to toxic levels,
potentially causing serotonin syndrome (characterized by agitation, confusion,
tachycardia, hypertension, hyperthermia, and potentially death). Patient safety is
the priority. While assessing for depression and suicide risk (A) is important, the
immediate concern is the potential drug interaction. Decreasing the
antidepressant dosage (D) should only be done under medical supervision and
would not address the interaction risk. Aromatherapy (B) is not relevant to the
safety concern.
3. Which of the following is not a technique used in cognitive therapy?
A) Reattribution
B) Role-playing
C) Abreaction
D) Developing alternatives
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Abreaction is not a technique used in cognitive therapy. Abreaction
involves the emotional release and re-experiencing of past traumatic events,
which is a technique more commonly associated with psychodynamic therapy and
psychoanalysis. Cognitive therapy techniques include reattribution (reevaluating
the causes of events), role-playing (practicing new behaviors and thought
patterns), and developing alternatives (generating alternative interpretations of
situations). Cognitive therapy, developed by Aaron Beck, focuses on identifying
and modifying maladaptive thoughts, perceptions, and attitudes using an active,
time-limited approach.
,4. The psychiatric advanced practice nurse is developing the care plan for an 8-
year-old child with intermittent explosive disorder. Based on Piaget, which of
the following goals would be appropriate? The child will:
A) Connect consequences of his behavior with the behavior itself.
B) Generalize the consequences of his anger and aggression to different
situations.
C) Identify situations in which he is likely to feel abandoned.
D) Experience an increase in autonomous behavior.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Based on Piaget's cognitive development theory, an 8-year-old child is
in the concrete operational stage (ages 7-12 years). Children at this stage can think
logically about concrete events and understand cause-and-effect relationships,
but they have difficulty with abstract thinking and generalization. Therefore, the
child can connect consequences of his behavior with the behavior itself (A), but
may struggle with generalizing consequences to different situations (B) as this
requires more abstract reasoning. Identifying situations of feeling abandoned (C)
involves abstract emotional concepts. Autonomous behavior (D) relates more to
Erikson's developmental tasks.
5. In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, it is often helpful to view people as separate
from their problems and behaviors. This empowers them to make changes in
their thought patterns and behaviors. Which type of therapy would utilize this
approach?
A) Psychoanalysis
B) Narrative Therapy
C) Strategic Therapy
D) Psychodynamic therapy
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Narrative Therapy views people as separate from their problems and
destructive behaviors. This approach allows clients to get distance from the
difficulties they face, helping them see how problems might actually be helping or
protecting them. By externalizing the problem, clients can examine it objectively
and develop alternative narratives. This differs from psychoanalysis (A) and
psychodynamic therapy (D), which focus on unconscious conflicts, and strategic
therapy (C), which focuses on problem-solving strategies. Narrative therapy
empowers clients to make changes by recognizing they are not defined by their
problems.
6. Characteristics of cognitive-behavioral therapy include: (Select all that apply.)
A) Not time limited
B) Active
C) Directive
D) Collaborative
E) Unstructured
Correct Answers: B, C, D
Rationale: Cognitive-behavioral therapy is characterized as active, directive, and
collaborative. It is active in that both therapist and patient engage in therapeutic
work; directive in that the therapist guides the patient toward identified goals;
and collaborative in that therapist and patient work together as a team. CBT is
time-limited (typically 16 sessions on average), not unstructured—it follows a
structured format with specific techniques and homework assignments. The
collaborative nature distinguishes CBT from more traditional psychoanalytic
approaches where the therapist remains more neutral. The active, directive
approach helps patients learn to become their own therapists.
7. What theorist is considered the "father of CBT"?
A) Albert Ellis
Modalities in Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health
Nursing Practice | Question with Answers and
Rationale | Graded A+ | New Update 2026/2027
1. Which one of the following is the focus of interpersonal therapy?
A) Anxiety management
B) Belief systems
C) Faulty cognitions
D) Social interaction
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Interpersonal therapy (IPT) focuses on social interaction and
interpersonal relationships. IPT was founded by Adolph Meyer and Harry Stack
Sullivan and is based on the assumption that psychiatric disorders (particularly
depression) are influenced by interpersonal interactions and the social context.
The goal of IPT is to reduce or eliminate psychiatric symptoms by improving
interpersonal functioning and satisfaction with social relationships. IPT addresses
four identified problem areas: grief, role disputes, role transition, and
interpersonal deficits. This distinguishes IPT from cognitive therapy (which focuses
on belief systems and faulty cognitions) and anxiety management techniques.
2. A patient tells the psychiatric advanced practice nurse she is going to try
supplementing her selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor with St. John's wort.
Which action should the psychiatric advanced practice nurse take first?
A) Assess the patient for depression and risk for suicide.
B) Suggest that aromatherapy may produce even better results.
C) Advise her of the danger of serotonin syndrome.
,D) Suggest she consider decreasing the dosage of her antidepressant.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse should first advise the patient of the danger of serotonin
syndrome. St. John's wort, an herbal supplement commonly used for depression,
can interact dangerously with SSRIs by increasing serotonin levels to toxic levels,
potentially causing serotonin syndrome (characterized by agitation, confusion,
tachycardia, hypertension, hyperthermia, and potentially death). Patient safety is
the priority. While assessing for depression and suicide risk (A) is important, the
immediate concern is the potential drug interaction. Decreasing the
antidepressant dosage (D) should only be done under medical supervision and
would not address the interaction risk. Aromatherapy (B) is not relevant to the
safety concern.
3. Which of the following is not a technique used in cognitive therapy?
A) Reattribution
B) Role-playing
C) Abreaction
D) Developing alternatives
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Abreaction is not a technique used in cognitive therapy. Abreaction
involves the emotional release and re-experiencing of past traumatic events,
which is a technique more commonly associated with psychodynamic therapy and
psychoanalysis. Cognitive therapy techniques include reattribution (reevaluating
the causes of events), role-playing (practicing new behaviors and thought
patterns), and developing alternatives (generating alternative interpretations of
situations). Cognitive therapy, developed by Aaron Beck, focuses on identifying
and modifying maladaptive thoughts, perceptions, and attitudes using an active,
time-limited approach.
,4. The psychiatric advanced practice nurse is developing the care plan for an 8-
year-old child with intermittent explosive disorder. Based on Piaget, which of
the following goals would be appropriate? The child will:
A) Connect consequences of his behavior with the behavior itself.
B) Generalize the consequences of his anger and aggression to different
situations.
C) Identify situations in which he is likely to feel abandoned.
D) Experience an increase in autonomous behavior.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Based on Piaget's cognitive development theory, an 8-year-old child is
in the concrete operational stage (ages 7-12 years). Children at this stage can think
logically about concrete events and understand cause-and-effect relationships,
but they have difficulty with abstract thinking and generalization. Therefore, the
child can connect consequences of his behavior with the behavior itself (A), but
may struggle with generalizing consequences to different situations (B) as this
requires more abstract reasoning. Identifying situations of feeling abandoned (C)
involves abstract emotional concepts. Autonomous behavior (D) relates more to
Erikson's developmental tasks.
5. In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, it is often helpful to view people as separate
from their problems and behaviors. This empowers them to make changes in
their thought patterns and behaviors. Which type of therapy would utilize this
approach?
A) Psychoanalysis
B) Narrative Therapy
C) Strategic Therapy
D) Psychodynamic therapy
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Narrative Therapy views people as separate from their problems and
destructive behaviors. This approach allows clients to get distance from the
difficulties they face, helping them see how problems might actually be helping or
protecting them. By externalizing the problem, clients can examine it objectively
and develop alternative narratives. This differs from psychoanalysis (A) and
psychodynamic therapy (D), which focus on unconscious conflicts, and strategic
therapy (C), which focuses on problem-solving strategies. Narrative therapy
empowers clients to make changes by recognizing they are not defined by their
problems.
6. Characteristics of cognitive-behavioral therapy include: (Select all that apply.)
A) Not time limited
B) Active
C) Directive
D) Collaborative
E) Unstructured
Correct Answers: B, C, D
Rationale: Cognitive-behavioral therapy is characterized as active, directive, and
collaborative. It is active in that both therapist and patient engage in therapeutic
work; directive in that the therapist guides the patient toward identified goals;
and collaborative in that therapist and patient work together as a team. CBT is
time-limited (typically 16 sessions on average), not unstructured—it follows a
structured format with specific techniques and homework assignments. The
collaborative nature distinguishes CBT from more traditional psychoanalytic
approaches where the therapist remains more neutral. The active, directive
approach helps patients learn to become their own therapists.
7. What theorist is considered the "father of CBT"?
A) Albert Ellis
