• Psychiatric Mental 09/07/2026
Health
Test Bank for Varcarolis' Foundations of
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing A Clinical,
9th Edition by Halter, 9780323697071,
Covering Chapters 1-36 | Includes Rationales
A 37-year-old man has been remanded by the court to the drug rehabilitation unit of a psychiatric facility for
treatment of cocaine addiction. When taking his health history, what characteristics should the nurse expect the
client to report? Select all that apply.
1
Anxiety
2
Weight loss
3
Palpitations
P 1
, • Psychiatric Mental 09/07/2026
Health
4
Sedentary habits
5
Difficulties with speech –
Correct Answer :123Cocaine, an alkaloid stimulant, can precipitate anxiety, hypervigilance, euphoria, agitation,
and anger. The loss of appetite and increased metabolic rate associated with cocaine addiction both promote
weight loss. Cocaine is a stimulant that has cardiac effects such as tachycardia and dysrhythmias. Sedentary
habits are associated with barbiturate addiction. Difficulties with speech are associated with other addictions
such as alcohol and methadone.
A client being admitted for alcoholism reports having had alcoholic blackouts. The nurse knows that an alcoholic
blackout is best described as:
1
A fugue state resembling absence seizures
2
Fainting spells followed by loss of memory
3
Loss of consciousness lasting less than 10 minutes
4
Absence of memory in relation to drinking episodes –
Correct Answer :4
Although the exact cause is unclear, alcoholic blackouts appear to result from responses of central nervous
system cells to the substance. The individual does not have any type of seizure during the blackout. Fainting is
not associated with the blackout. The individual loses memory but not consciousness.
A nurse notes that haloperidol (Haldol) is most effective for clients who exhibit behavior that is:
P 2
, • Psychiatric Mental 09/07/2026
Health
1
Depressed
2
Withdrawn
3
Manipulative
4
Overactive - Correct Answer :4
Nortriptyline (Pamelor) three times a day is prescribed for a depressed client. When does the nurse expect a
therapeutic response?
1
1 to 3 days
2
12 to 24 hours
3
30 minutes to 2 hours
4
2 to 3 weeks - Correct Answer :4
As with other tricyclics, optimal therapeutic effects take 2 to 3 weeks to occur. One to 3 days, 12 to 24 hours, and
30 minutes to 2 hours are all too soon to expect a response to nortriptyline.
A client with vascular dementia (formerly known as multiinfarct dementia) has signs and symptoms that are
different from dementia of the Alzheimer type. What characteristics unique to vascular dementia should the
nurse expect when assessing a client with this diagnosis? Select all that apply.
1
Memory impairment
2
Failure to identify objects
P 3
, • Psychiatric Mental 09/07/2026
Health
3
Exaggerated deep tendon reflexes
4
Episodic progression of symptoms
5
Inability to use words to communicate –
Correct Answer :34
The diagnosis of vascular dementia is made when there is evidence of focal neurological signs and symptoms
such as exaggerated deep tendon reflexes, extensor plantar response, gait abnormalities, and muscle weakness
and computed tomography reveals multiple infarcts involving the cortex and underlying white matter. Usually
the signs and symptoms associated with vascular dementia have a steplike progression because of further
intermittent occlusion of small arteries or arterioles in the cortex of the brain. Dementia of the Alzheimer type is
associated with a gradual, progressive loss of memory and cognitive abilities. Both vascular dementia and
dementia of the Alzheimer type are associated with deficits in memory and cognition. Failure to identify objects
despite intact sensory function (agnosia) is a cognitive disturbance associated with both vascular dementia and
dementia of the Alzheimer type. Both vascular dementia and dementia of the Alzheimer type are associated
with language disturbances such as inability to use or understand words (aphasia).
A client with mental health problems is given a prescription for fluphenazine (Prolixin). The nurse develops a
teaching plan about the medication. What should the nurse caution the client to avoid?
1
Eating cheeses
2
Nighttime driving
3
Taking drugs containing aspirin
4
Staying in the sun –
P 4
Health
Test Bank for Varcarolis' Foundations of
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing A Clinical,
9th Edition by Halter, 9780323697071,
Covering Chapters 1-36 | Includes Rationales
A 37-year-old man has been remanded by the court to the drug rehabilitation unit of a psychiatric facility for
treatment of cocaine addiction. When taking his health history, what characteristics should the nurse expect the
client to report? Select all that apply.
1
Anxiety
2
Weight loss
3
Palpitations
P 1
, • Psychiatric Mental 09/07/2026
Health
4
Sedentary habits
5
Difficulties with speech –
Correct Answer :123Cocaine, an alkaloid stimulant, can precipitate anxiety, hypervigilance, euphoria, agitation,
and anger. The loss of appetite and increased metabolic rate associated with cocaine addiction both promote
weight loss. Cocaine is a stimulant that has cardiac effects such as tachycardia and dysrhythmias. Sedentary
habits are associated with barbiturate addiction. Difficulties with speech are associated with other addictions
such as alcohol and methadone.
A client being admitted for alcoholism reports having had alcoholic blackouts. The nurse knows that an alcoholic
blackout is best described as:
1
A fugue state resembling absence seizures
2
Fainting spells followed by loss of memory
3
Loss of consciousness lasting less than 10 minutes
4
Absence of memory in relation to drinking episodes –
Correct Answer :4
Although the exact cause is unclear, alcoholic blackouts appear to result from responses of central nervous
system cells to the substance. The individual does not have any type of seizure during the blackout. Fainting is
not associated with the blackout. The individual loses memory but not consciousness.
A nurse notes that haloperidol (Haldol) is most effective for clients who exhibit behavior that is:
P 2
, • Psychiatric Mental 09/07/2026
Health
1
Depressed
2
Withdrawn
3
Manipulative
4
Overactive - Correct Answer :4
Nortriptyline (Pamelor) three times a day is prescribed for a depressed client. When does the nurse expect a
therapeutic response?
1
1 to 3 days
2
12 to 24 hours
3
30 minutes to 2 hours
4
2 to 3 weeks - Correct Answer :4
As with other tricyclics, optimal therapeutic effects take 2 to 3 weeks to occur. One to 3 days, 12 to 24 hours, and
30 minutes to 2 hours are all too soon to expect a response to nortriptyline.
A client with vascular dementia (formerly known as multiinfarct dementia) has signs and symptoms that are
different from dementia of the Alzheimer type. What characteristics unique to vascular dementia should the
nurse expect when assessing a client with this diagnosis? Select all that apply.
1
Memory impairment
2
Failure to identify objects
P 3
, • Psychiatric Mental 09/07/2026
Health
3
Exaggerated deep tendon reflexes
4
Episodic progression of symptoms
5
Inability to use words to communicate –
Correct Answer :34
The diagnosis of vascular dementia is made when there is evidence of focal neurological signs and symptoms
such as exaggerated deep tendon reflexes, extensor plantar response, gait abnormalities, and muscle weakness
and computed tomography reveals multiple infarcts involving the cortex and underlying white matter. Usually
the signs and symptoms associated with vascular dementia have a steplike progression because of further
intermittent occlusion of small arteries or arterioles in the cortex of the brain. Dementia of the Alzheimer type is
associated with a gradual, progressive loss of memory and cognitive abilities. Both vascular dementia and
dementia of the Alzheimer type are associated with deficits in memory and cognition. Failure to identify objects
despite intact sensory function (agnosia) is a cognitive disturbance associated with both vascular dementia and
dementia of the Alzheimer type. Both vascular dementia and dementia of the Alzheimer type are associated
with language disturbances such as inability to use or understand words (aphasia).
A client with mental health problems is given a prescription for fluphenazine (Prolixin). The nurse develops a
teaching plan about the medication. What should the nurse caution the client to avoid?
1
Eating cheeses
2
Nighttime driving
3
Taking drugs containing aspirin
4
Staying in the sun –
P 4
