MENTAL HEALTH MODULE 2 FINAL EXAM REVIEW - ALL ANSWERED

MENTAL HEALTH MODULE 2 FINAL EXAM REVIEW - ALL ANSWERED 1. A patient asks, "What are neurotransmitters? My doctor said mine are imbalanced." Select the nurse's best response. "Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals that pass messages between brain cells." The patient asked for information, and the correct response is most accurate. Neurotransmitters are chemical substances that function as messengers in the central nervous system. They are released from the axon terminal, diffuse across the synapse, and attach to specialized receptors on the postsynaptic neuron. 2. The parent of an adolescent diagnosed with schizophrenia asks the nurse, "My child's doctor ordered a PET. What kind of test is that?" Select the nurse's best reply. "PET means positron-emission tomography. It is a special type of scan that shows blood flow and activity in the brain." The parent is seeking information about PET scans. It is important to use terms the parent can understand, so the nurse should identify what the initials mean. 3. A patient with a long history of hypertension and diabetes now develops confusion. The health care provider wants to make a differential diagnosis between Alzheimer's disease and multiple infarcts. Which diagnostic procedure should the nurse expect to prepare the patient for first? CT scan A CT scan shows the presence or absence of structural changes, including cortical atrophy, ventricular enlargement, and areas of infarct, information that would be helpful to the health care provider. 4. A patient's history shows drinking 4 to 6 L of fluid and eating more than 6,000 calories per day. Which part of the central nervous system is most likely dysfunctional for this patient? Hypothalamus The hypothalamus, a small area in the ventral superior portion of the brainstem, plays a vital role in such basic drives as hunger, thirst, and sex. 5. The nurse prepares to assess a patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder for disturbances in circadian rhythms. Which question should the nurse ask this patient? "What are your worst and best times of the day?" Mood changes throughout the day may be related to circadian rhythm disturbances. Questions about sleep pattern are also relevant to circadian rhythms. 6. The nurse administers a medication that potentiates the action of ã-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Which effect would be expected? Reduced anxiety Increased levels of GABA reduce anxiety. Acetylcholine and substance P are associated with memory enhancement. Thought disorganization is associated with dopamine. GABA is not associated with sensory perceptual alterations. 7. A nurse would anticipate that treatment for a patient with memory difficulties might include medications designed to prevent destruction of acetylcholine Increased acetylcholine plays a role in learning and memory. Preventing destruction of acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase would result in higher levels of acetylcholine, with the potential for improved memory. 8. A patient has disorganized thinking associated with schizophrenia. Neuroimaging would likely show dysfunction in which part of the brain? Frontal lobe The frontal lobe is responsible for intellectual functioning. 9. The nurse should assess a patient taking a drug with anticholinergic properties for inhibited function of the parasympathetic nervous system Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter found in high concentration in the parasympathetic nervous system. When anticholinergic drugs inhibit acetylcholine action, blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, and urinary retention commonly occur. 10. The therapeutic action of neurotransmitter inhibitors that block reuptake cause increased concentration of the blocked neurotransmitter in the synaptic gap If the reuptake of a substance is inhibited, it accumulates in the synaptic gap, and its concentration increases, permitting ease of transmission of impulses across the synaptic gap. Normal transmission of impulses across synaptic gaps is consistent with normal rather than depressed mood. 11. A patient taking medication for mental illness develops restlessness and an uncontrollable need to be in motion. Which drug action causes these symptoms to develop? Dopamine-blocking effects Medication that blocks dopamine often produces disturbances of movement, such as akathisia, because dopamine affects neurons involved in both thought processes and movement regulation. Anticholinergic effects include dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, and constipation. 12. A fearful patient has an increased heart rate and blood pressure. The nurse suspects increased activity of which neurotransmitter? Norepinephrine Norepinephrine is the neurotransmitter associated with sympathetic nervous system stimulation, preparing the individual for "fight or flight.”