Varcarolis Chapter One Mental Health
Assessment Study Guide Exam Questions with
Key Marking Scheme Updated 2024/2025
A nurse participating in a community health fair is asked, "What
is the most prevalent mental disorder in the United States?"
Select the nurse's best response.
a. Schizophrenia
b. "Why do you ask?"
c. bipolar disorder
d. Alzheimer's disease - correct answer D The prevalence
for Alzheimer's disease is 10% for persons older than 65 and 50%
for persons older than 85. The prevalence of schizophrenia is
1.1% per year. The prevalence of bipolar disorder is 2.6%. It is
important for the nurse to provide information rather than probe
the reason for the person's question.
In the majority culture of the United States, which individual has
the greatest risk to be labeled mentally ill? One who:
a. describes hearing God's voice speaking.
b. is usually pessimistic but strives to meet personal goals.
c. is wealthy and gives away $20 bills to needy individuals.
d. always has an optimistic viewpoint about life and having own
needs met. - correct answer A
The question asks about risk. Hearing voices is generally
associated with mental illness, but in charismatic religious
groups, hearing the voice of God or a prophet is a desirable
event. Cultural norms vary, which makes it more difficult to
,make an accurate diagnosis. The individuals described in the
other options are less likely to be labeled mentally ill.
A patient's relationships are intense and unstable. The patient
initially idealizes the significant other and then devalues them,
resulting in frequent feelings of emptiness. This patient will
benefit from interventions to develop which aspect of mental
health?
a. Effectiveness in work
b. Communication skills
c. Productive activities
d. Fulfilling relationships - correct answer D
The information given centers on relationships with others,
which are described as intense and unstable. The relationships of
mentally healthy individuals are stable, satisfying, and socially
integrated. Data are not present to describe work effectiveness,
communication skills, or activities.
A patient is depressed, mute, and motionless. According to family
members, the patient has refused to bathe or eat for a week. The
patient's global assessment of functioning score is:
a. 100
b. 50
c. 25
d. 10 - correct answer D
The patient is unable to maintain personal hygiene, oral intake,
or verbal communication. The patient is a danger to self because
of not eating. The distracters represent higher levels of
functioning.
, Which belief will best support a nurse's efforts to provide patient
advocacy during a multidisciplinary patient care planning
session?
a. All mental illnesses are culturally determined.
b. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are cross-cultural
disorders.
c. Symptoms of mental disorders are unchanged from culture to
culture.
d. Assessment findings in mental disorders reflect a person's
cultural patterns. - correct answer D
A nurse who understands that a patient's symptoms are
influenced by culture will be able to advocate for the patient to a
greater degree than a nurse who believes that culture is of little
relevance. The distracters are untrue statements.
A nurse is part of a multidisciplinary team working with groups
of depressed patients. Half the patients receive supportive
interventions and antidepressant medication. The other half
receives only medication. The team measures outcomes for each
group. Which type of study is evident?
a. Prevalence
b. Clinical epidemiology
c. Descriptive epidemiology
d. Experimental epidemiology - correct answer B
Clinical epidemiology is a broad field that addresses what
happens to people with illnesses seen by providers of clinical
care. This study is concerned with the effectiveness of various
interventions. Prevalence refers to numbers of new cases.
Descriptive epidemiology provides estimates of the rates of
Assessment Study Guide Exam Questions with
Key Marking Scheme Updated 2024/2025
A nurse participating in a community health fair is asked, "What
is the most prevalent mental disorder in the United States?"
Select the nurse's best response.
a. Schizophrenia
b. "Why do you ask?"
c. bipolar disorder
d. Alzheimer's disease - correct answer D The prevalence
for Alzheimer's disease is 10% for persons older than 65 and 50%
for persons older than 85. The prevalence of schizophrenia is
1.1% per year. The prevalence of bipolar disorder is 2.6%. It is
important for the nurse to provide information rather than probe
the reason for the person's question.
In the majority culture of the United States, which individual has
the greatest risk to be labeled mentally ill? One who:
a. describes hearing God's voice speaking.
b. is usually pessimistic but strives to meet personal goals.
c. is wealthy and gives away $20 bills to needy individuals.
d. always has an optimistic viewpoint about life and having own
needs met. - correct answer A
The question asks about risk. Hearing voices is generally
associated with mental illness, but in charismatic religious
groups, hearing the voice of God or a prophet is a desirable
event. Cultural norms vary, which makes it more difficult to
,make an accurate diagnosis. The individuals described in the
other options are less likely to be labeled mentally ill.
A patient's relationships are intense and unstable. The patient
initially idealizes the significant other and then devalues them,
resulting in frequent feelings of emptiness. This patient will
benefit from interventions to develop which aspect of mental
health?
a. Effectiveness in work
b. Communication skills
c. Productive activities
d. Fulfilling relationships - correct answer D
The information given centers on relationships with others,
which are described as intense and unstable. The relationships of
mentally healthy individuals are stable, satisfying, and socially
integrated. Data are not present to describe work effectiveness,
communication skills, or activities.
A patient is depressed, mute, and motionless. According to family
members, the patient has refused to bathe or eat for a week. The
patient's global assessment of functioning score is:
a. 100
b. 50
c. 25
d. 10 - correct answer D
The patient is unable to maintain personal hygiene, oral intake,
or verbal communication. The patient is a danger to self because
of not eating. The distracters represent higher levels of
functioning.
, Which belief will best support a nurse's efforts to provide patient
advocacy during a multidisciplinary patient care planning
session?
a. All mental illnesses are culturally determined.
b. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are cross-cultural
disorders.
c. Symptoms of mental disorders are unchanged from culture to
culture.
d. Assessment findings in mental disorders reflect a person's
cultural patterns. - correct answer D
A nurse who understands that a patient's symptoms are
influenced by culture will be able to advocate for the patient to a
greater degree than a nurse who believes that culture is of little
relevance. The distracters are untrue statements.
A nurse is part of a multidisciplinary team working with groups
of depressed patients. Half the patients receive supportive
interventions and antidepressant medication. The other half
receives only medication. The team measures outcomes for each
group. Which type of study is evident?
a. Prevalence
b. Clinical epidemiology
c. Descriptive epidemiology
d. Experimental epidemiology - correct answer B
Clinical epidemiology is a broad field that addresses what
happens to people with illnesses seen by providers of clinical
care. This study is concerned with the effectiveness of various
interventions. Prevalence refers to numbers of new cases.
Descriptive epidemiology provides estimates of the rates of
