Mental Health Questions with correct
answers.
During a psychiatric nursing assessment, Sally reports to the nurse that she was
sexually assaulted 6 months ago and since then has had trouble concentrating at
work. Her employer tells her he is sensitive to the amount of stress she is under,
since she also recently went through a divorce, but that she needs to seek help for
her anxiety and depression to avoid further consequences at work. Which of these
data support the diagnosis of PTSD according to DSM-5 criteria? Select all that
apply.
1) She directly experienced a traumatic event.
2) She is a single female.
3) She has had difficulty concentrating at work.
4) Her anxiety and depression are interfering with job functioning.
5) Her symptoms have been present for more than 6 months. - correct answers.1)
She directly experienced a traumatic event.
3) She has had difficulty concentrating at work.
4) Her anxiety and depression are interfering with job functioning.
5) Her symptoms have been present for more than 6 months.
Jared returned from active duty in the military and has beendiagnosed with PTSD.
Which of the following interventions has been strongly advocated for as an effective
strategy in this population?
1) Group therapy with patients who have a variety of diagnoses
2) Group therapy with patients who have anger management issues
3) Group therapy with patients who have experienced similar traumas
4) Group therapy with patients who have experienced different types of trauma -
correct answers.3) Group therapy with patients who have experienced similar
traumas
The family of a patient being treated for PTSD asks the nurse to describe EMDR
(eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), since it is being recommended for
this patient. Which of the following teaching points are accurate descriptions of this
intervention? Select all that apply.
1) EMDR has been shown to be effective in the treatment of all mental illnesses,
including schizophrenia.
2) The process involves rapid eye movement while processing painful memories.
3) This process is contraindicated for patients with retinal detachment or glaucoma.
,4) This process is thought to relieve anxiety so that the trauma can be processed
from a more detached perspective.
5) The biological mechanism that makes EMDR effective is that it releases opioid-
like chemicals in the brain. - correct answers.2) The process involves rapid eye
movement while processing painful memories.
3) This process is contraindicated for patients with retinal detachment or glaucoma.
4) This process is thought to relieve anxiety so that the trauma can be processed
from a more detached perspective.
4.The nurse is conducting an intake assessment for a patient with PTSD. Which of
the following pieces of information support this diagnosis? Select all that apply.
1) The patient reports having nightmares but can't remember what they are about.
2) The patient states that he heard a loud noise when he was walking down the
street and thought he was back in the war zone where he had last been deployed.
3) The patient took antidepressants when he was in junior high school and reports
they didn't help.
4) The patient denies any history of substance abuse or dependence. - correct
answers.1) The patient reports having nightmares but can't remember what they are
about.
2) The patient states that he heard a loud noise when he was walking down the
street and thought he was back in the war zone where he had last been deployed.
5.One type of intervention useful for patients with adjustment disorders is a short-
term therapy focused on problem-solving skills and restoring adaptive functioning.
This type of therapy is ____________________. - correct answers.Crisis
intervention
6.Carol has sought treatment for an adjustment disorder after divorcing her husband
of 30 years. The nurse assesses that Carol is experiencing complicated grieving.
Which of the following would be an appropriate intervention to address Carol's
symptoms?
1) Explore with Carol the stages of normal grieving.
2) Tell Carol that expressing anger will only keep her fixated at that stage of grieving.
3) Encourage Carol that these symptoms usually go away on their own.
4) All of the above. - correct answers.1) Explore with Carol the stages of normal
grieving.
7.Beth is being treated for an adjustment disorder following a job demotion 2 months
ago. Since the demotion, she has frequently called in sick, complains of
incapacitating migraines, and has been disciplined for yelling at her boss. Her
husband asks the nurse why his wife is still having so much trouble functioning,
since he knows people who have lost their jobs entirely and have since resolved
their concerns. Which of these statements by the nurse accurately reflects
understanding of the dynamics of different kinds of stressors in patient recovery?
1) Women have more difficulty managing work-related stressors than men.
2) Ongoing stressors are associated with more maladaptive behaviors than sudden-
shock types of stressors.
, 3) Job demotion is associated with longer-term recovery because it is so uncommon.
4) Carol probably had pre-existing difficulties managing stressors as a child. - correct
answers.2) Ongoing stressors are associated with more maladaptive behaviors than
sudden-shock types of stressors.
8.An adult male has sought counseling at a community mental health center for
PTSD. He reports during assessment that he witnessed the murder of a close friend
last year in a random, drive-by shooting in his neighborhood. Since this loss he has
had recurrent nightmares, explosive episodes, and frequently incapacitating anxiety.
Which of the following nursing diagnoses would be appropriate, based on this
assessment data? Select all that apply.
1) Post Trauma Syndrome R/T distressing events, as evidenced by recurrent
nightmares.
2) Complicated grieving R/T loss of a friend in the traumatic event, as evidenced by
explosive outbursts and reports of incapacitating anxiety.
3) Isolation R/T unresolved anxiety, as evidenced by complaints of incapacitating
anxiety.
4) Risk for suicide R/T survivor guilt. - correct answers.1) Post Trauma Syndrome
R/T distressing events, as evidenced by recurrent nightmares.
2) Complicated grieving R/T loss of a friend in the traumatic event, as evidenced by
explosive outbursts and reports of incapacitating anxiety.
9.The nurse is conducting an assessment for a patient diagnosed with PTSD. She
recognizes that people with PTSD are at high risk for several comorbid conditions.
Which of the following will she need to assess carefully because of the high risk in
people with PTSD? Select all that apply.
1) Trichotillomania
2) Depression and suicide ideation
3) Substance abuse
4) Verbal or physical aggression
5) Narcissistic Personality Disorder - correct answers.2) Depression and suicide
ideation
3) Substance abuse
4) Verbal or physical aggression
10.The nurse is developing a plan of care for a patient diagnosed with PTSD. Which
of the following variables will have an impact on the patient's response to
interventions? Select all that apply.
1) Patient's self-esteem
2) Socioeconomic status
3) History of psychopathology
4) Amount of control over recurrence
5) Temperament
6) Immediate crisis debriefing - correct answers.1) Patient's self-esteem
2) Socioeconomic status
3) History of psychopathology
4) Amount of control over recurrence
answers.
During a psychiatric nursing assessment, Sally reports to the nurse that she was
sexually assaulted 6 months ago and since then has had trouble concentrating at
work. Her employer tells her he is sensitive to the amount of stress she is under,
since she also recently went through a divorce, but that she needs to seek help for
her anxiety and depression to avoid further consequences at work. Which of these
data support the diagnosis of PTSD according to DSM-5 criteria? Select all that
apply.
1) She directly experienced a traumatic event.
2) She is a single female.
3) She has had difficulty concentrating at work.
4) Her anxiety and depression are interfering with job functioning.
5) Her symptoms have been present for more than 6 months. - correct answers.1)
She directly experienced a traumatic event.
3) She has had difficulty concentrating at work.
4) Her anxiety and depression are interfering with job functioning.
5) Her symptoms have been present for more than 6 months.
Jared returned from active duty in the military and has beendiagnosed with PTSD.
Which of the following interventions has been strongly advocated for as an effective
strategy in this population?
1) Group therapy with patients who have a variety of diagnoses
2) Group therapy with patients who have anger management issues
3) Group therapy with patients who have experienced similar traumas
4) Group therapy with patients who have experienced different types of trauma -
correct answers.3) Group therapy with patients who have experienced similar
traumas
The family of a patient being treated for PTSD asks the nurse to describe EMDR
(eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), since it is being recommended for
this patient. Which of the following teaching points are accurate descriptions of this
intervention? Select all that apply.
1) EMDR has been shown to be effective in the treatment of all mental illnesses,
including schizophrenia.
2) The process involves rapid eye movement while processing painful memories.
3) This process is contraindicated for patients with retinal detachment or glaucoma.
,4) This process is thought to relieve anxiety so that the trauma can be processed
from a more detached perspective.
5) The biological mechanism that makes EMDR effective is that it releases opioid-
like chemicals in the brain. - correct answers.2) The process involves rapid eye
movement while processing painful memories.
3) This process is contraindicated for patients with retinal detachment or glaucoma.
4) This process is thought to relieve anxiety so that the trauma can be processed
from a more detached perspective.
4.The nurse is conducting an intake assessment for a patient with PTSD. Which of
the following pieces of information support this diagnosis? Select all that apply.
1) The patient reports having nightmares but can't remember what they are about.
2) The patient states that he heard a loud noise when he was walking down the
street and thought he was back in the war zone where he had last been deployed.
3) The patient took antidepressants when he was in junior high school and reports
they didn't help.
4) The patient denies any history of substance abuse or dependence. - correct
answers.1) The patient reports having nightmares but can't remember what they are
about.
2) The patient states that he heard a loud noise when he was walking down the
street and thought he was back in the war zone where he had last been deployed.
5.One type of intervention useful for patients with adjustment disorders is a short-
term therapy focused on problem-solving skills and restoring adaptive functioning.
This type of therapy is ____________________. - correct answers.Crisis
intervention
6.Carol has sought treatment for an adjustment disorder after divorcing her husband
of 30 years. The nurse assesses that Carol is experiencing complicated grieving.
Which of the following would be an appropriate intervention to address Carol's
symptoms?
1) Explore with Carol the stages of normal grieving.
2) Tell Carol that expressing anger will only keep her fixated at that stage of grieving.
3) Encourage Carol that these symptoms usually go away on their own.
4) All of the above. - correct answers.1) Explore with Carol the stages of normal
grieving.
7.Beth is being treated for an adjustment disorder following a job demotion 2 months
ago. Since the demotion, she has frequently called in sick, complains of
incapacitating migraines, and has been disciplined for yelling at her boss. Her
husband asks the nurse why his wife is still having so much trouble functioning,
since he knows people who have lost their jobs entirely and have since resolved
their concerns. Which of these statements by the nurse accurately reflects
understanding of the dynamics of different kinds of stressors in patient recovery?
1) Women have more difficulty managing work-related stressors than men.
2) Ongoing stressors are associated with more maladaptive behaviors than sudden-
shock types of stressors.
, 3) Job demotion is associated with longer-term recovery because it is so uncommon.
4) Carol probably had pre-existing difficulties managing stressors as a child. - correct
answers.2) Ongoing stressors are associated with more maladaptive behaviors than
sudden-shock types of stressors.
8.An adult male has sought counseling at a community mental health center for
PTSD. He reports during assessment that he witnessed the murder of a close friend
last year in a random, drive-by shooting in his neighborhood. Since this loss he has
had recurrent nightmares, explosive episodes, and frequently incapacitating anxiety.
Which of the following nursing diagnoses would be appropriate, based on this
assessment data? Select all that apply.
1) Post Trauma Syndrome R/T distressing events, as evidenced by recurrent
nightmares.
2) Complicated grieving R/T loss of a friend in the traumatic event, as evidenced by
explosive outbursts and reports of incapacitating anxiety.
3) Isolation R/T unresolved anxiety, as evidenced by complaints of incapacitating
anxiety.
4) Risk for suicide R/T survivor guilt. - correct answers.1) Post Trauma Syndrome
R/T distressing events, as evidenced by recurrent nightmares.
2) Complicated grieving R/T loss of a friend in the traumatic event, as evidenced by
explosive outbursts and reports of incapacitating anxiety.
9.The nurse is conducting an assessment for a patient diagnosed with PTSD. She
recognizes that people with PTSD are at high risk for several comorbid conditions.
Which of the following will she need to assess carefully because of the high risk in
people with PTSD? Select all that apply.
1) Trichotillomania
2) Depression and suicide ideation
3) Substance abuse
4) Verbal or physical aggression
5) Narcissistic Personality Disorder - correct answers.2) Depression and suicide
ideation
3) Substance abuse
4) Verbal or physical aggression
10.The nurse is developing a plan of care for a patient diagnosed with PTSD. Which
of the following variables will have an impact on the patient's response to
interventions? Select all that apply.
1) Patient's self-esteem
2) Socioeconomic status
3) History of psychopathology
4) Amount of control over recurrence
5) Temperament
6) Immediate crisis debriefing - correct answers.1) Patient's self-esteem
2) Socioeconomic status
3) History of psychopathology
4) Amount of control over recurrence
