Mood Disorders: Depression NCLEX questions with
verified answers
A 75-year-old client diagnosed with a long history of depression is currently on
doxepin (Sinequan) 100 mg daily. The client takes a daily diuretic for hypertension
and is recovering from the flu. Which nursing diagnosis should the nurse assign
highest priority?
A. Risk for ineffective thermoregulation R/T anhidrosis
B. Risk for constipation R/T excessive fluid loss
C. Risk for injury R/T orthostatic hypotension
D. Risk for infection R/T suppressed white blood cell count Ans✓✓✓ ANS: C
A side effect of Sinequan is orthostatic hypotension. Dehydration due to fluid loss
from a combination of diuretic medication and flu symptoms can also contribute
to this problem, putting this client at risk for injury R/T orthostatic hypotension.
A client admitted to the psychiatric unit following a suicide attempt is diagnosed
with major depressive disorder. Which behavioral symptoms should the nurse
expect to assess?
A. Anxiety and unconscious anger
B. Lack of attention to grooming and hygiene
C. Guilt and indecisiveness
D. Expressions of poor self-esteem Ans✓✓✓ ANS: B
Lack of attention to grooming and hygiene is the only behavioral symptom
presented. Depressed clients do not care enough about themselves to participate
in grooming and hygiene.
,A client diagnosed with major depressive disorder was raised in an excessively
religiously based household. Which nursing intervention would be most
appropriate to address this client's underlying problem?
A. Encourage the client to bring into awareness underlying sources of guilt.
B. Teach the client that religious beliefs should be put into perspective
throughout the life span.
C. Confront the client with the irrational nature of the belief system.
D. Assist the client to modify his or her belief system in order to improve coping
skills. Ans✓✓✓ ANS: A
A client raised in an excessively religiously based household maybe at risk for
experiencing guilt to the point of accepting liability in situations for which one is
not responsible. The client may view himself or herself as evil and deserving of
punishment leading to depression. Assisting the client to bring these feelings into
awareness allows the client to realistically appraise distorted responsibility and
dysfunctional guilt.
A client diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) states, "I've been feeling
'down' for 3 months. Will I ever feel like myself again?" Which reply by the nurse
will best assess this client's symptoms.
A. "Have you been diagnosed with any physical disorder within the last 3
months?"
B. "Have you experienced any traumatic events that triggered this mood change?"
C. "People who have seasonal mood changes often feel better when spring
comes."
D. "Help me understand what you mean when you say, 'feeling down'?"
Ans✓✓✓ ANS: D
, The nurse is using a clarifying statement in order to gather more details related to
this client's mood. The diagnosis of SAD is not associated with a traumatic event.
A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a diagnosis of major depression.
The client is unable to concentrate, has no appetite, and is experiencing insomnia.
Which should be included in this client's plan of care?
A. A simple, structured daily schedule with limited choices of activities
B. A daily schedule filled with activities to promote socialization
C. A flexible schedule that allows the client opportunities for decision making
D. A schedule that includes mandatory activities to decrease social isolation
Ans✓✓✓ ANS: A
A client diagnosed with depression has difficulty concentrating and may be
overwhelmed by activity overload or the expectation of independent decision
making. A simple, structured daily schedule with limited choices of activities is
more appropriate.
A client is admitted with a diagnosis of depression NOS (not otherwise specified).
Which client statement would describe a somatic symptom that can occur with
this diagnosis?
A. "I am extremely sad, but I don't know why."
B. "Sometimes I just don't want to eat because I ache all over."
C. "I feel like I can't ever make the right decision."
D. "I can't seem to leave the house without someone with me." Ans✓✓✓ ANS: B
When a client diagnosed with depression expresses physical complaints, the client
is experiencing somatic symptoms. Somatic symptoms occur with depression
because of a general slowdown of the entire body reflected in sluggish digestion,
verified answers
A 75-year-old client diagnosed with a long history of depression is currently on
doxepin (Sinequan) 100 mg daily. The client takes a daily diuretic for hypertension
and is recovering from the flu. Which nursing diagnosis should the nurse assign
highest priority?
A. Risk for ineffective thermoregulation R/T anhidrosis
B. Risk for constipation R/T excessive fluid loss
C. Risk for injury R/T orthostatic hypotension
D. Risk for infection R/T suppressed white blood cell count Ans✓✓✓ ANS: C
A side effect of Sinequan is orthostatic hypotension. Dehydration due to fluid loss
from a combination of diuretic medication and flu symptoms can also contribute
to this problem, putting this client at risk for injury R/T orthostatic hypotension.
A client admitted to the psychiatric unit following a suicide attempt is diagnosed
with major depressive disorder. Which behavioral symptoms should the nurse
expect to assess?
A. Anxiety and unconscious anger
B. Lack of attention to grooming and hygiene
C. Guilt and indecisiveness
D. Expressions of poor self-esteem Ans✓✓✓ ANS: B
Lack of attention to grooming and hygiene is the only behavioral symptom
presented. Depressed clients do not care enough about themselves to participate
in grooming and hygiene.
,A client diagnosed with major depressive disorder was raised in an excessively
religiously based household. Which nursing intervention would be most
appropriate to address this client's underlying problem?
A. Encourage the client to bring into awareness underlying sources of guilt.
B. Teach the client that religious beliefs should be put into perspective
throughout the life span.
C. Confront the client with the irrational nature of the belief system.
D. Assist the client to modify his or her belief system in order to improve coping
skills. Ans✓✓✓ ANS: A
A client raised in an excessively religiously based household maybe at risk for
experiencing guilt to the point of accepting liability in situations for which one is
not responsible. The client may view himself or herself as evil and deserving of
punishment leading to depression. Assisting the client to bring these feelings into
awareness allows the client to realistically appraise distorted responsibility and
dysfunctional guilt.
A client diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) states, "I've been feeling
'down' for 3 months. Will I ever feel like myself again?" Which reply by the nurse
will best assess this client's symptoms.
A. "Have you been diagnosed with any physical disorder within the last 3
months?"
B. "Have you experienced any traumatic events that triggered this mood change?"
C. "People who have seasonal mood changes often feel better when spring
comes."
D. "Help me understand what you mean when you say, 'feeling down'?"
Ans✓✓✓ ANS: D
, The nurse is using a clarifying statement in order to gather more details related to
this client's mood. The diagnosis of SAD is not associated with a traumatic event.
A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a diagnosis of major depression.
The client is unable to concentrate, has no appetite, and is experiencing insomnia.
Which should be included in this client's plan of care?
A. A simple, structured daily schedule with limited choices of activities
B. A daily schedule filled with activities to promote socialization
C. A flexible schedule that allows the client opportunities for decision making
D. A schedule that includes mandatory activities to decrease social isolation
Ans✓✓✓ ANS: A
A client diagnosed with depression has difficulty concentrating and may be
overwhelmed by activity overload or the expectation of independent decision
making. A simple, structured daily schedule with limited choices of activities is
more appropriate.
A client is admitted with a diagnosis of depression NOS (not otherwise specified).
Which client statement would describe a somatic symptom that can occur with
this diagnosis?
A. "I am extremely sad, but I don't know why."
B. "Sometimes I just don't want to eat because I ache all over."
C. "I feel like I can't ever make the right decision."
D. "I can't seem to leave the house without someone with me." Ans✓✓✓ ANS: B
When a client diagnosed with depression expresses physical complaints, the client
is experiencing somatic symptoms. Somatic symptoms occur with depression
because of a general slowdown of the entire body reflected in sluggish digestion,
