ATI CAPSTONE MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam
Questions and Verified Answers with
Detailed Rationales Graded A+
Guaranteed Pass 2025
A nurse observes a client who is pacing and wringing his hands. The client states, "I don't
know why, but I've worried every day for over a year that my son will die a horrible death."
This finding is consistent with which of the following disorders?
A. Generalized anxiety disorder
B. Panic disorder
C. Posttraumatic stress disorder
D. Acute stress disorder - Answer ✓✓A
A. CORRECT: Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by uncontrollable, excessive worry
for more than 3 months.
B. INCORRECT: Panic disorder is associated with recurrent panic attacks rather than chronic
worrying. C. INCORRECT: PTSD is associated with a specific traumatic event. D. INCORRECT:
Acute stress disorder is associated with a specific traumatic event.
CHAPTER 11 Anxiety Disorders
Concepts
A nurse working on an acute mental health unit is caring for a client who has posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). Which of the following are expected findings?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Hallucinations
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, ATI CAPSTONE MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
B. Obsessive need to talk about the traumatic event
C. Exaggerated displays of emotion
D. Recurring nightmares
E. Diminished reflexes - Answer ✓✓A, D
A. CORRECT: Hallucinations associated with the traumatic event are an expected finding of
PTSD. D. CORRECT: Recurring nightmares associated with the traumatic event are an expected
finding of PTSD.
B. INCORRECT: Avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event is an expected
finding of PTSD. C. INCORRECT: The inability to show feelings or emotions is an expected
finding of PTSD. E. INCORRECT: Increased arousal, rather than diminished reflexes, is an
expected finding of PTSD.
CHAPTER 11 Anxiety Disorders
Concepts
A nurse working in an acute mental health facility is caring for a 35-year-old female client who
has clinical findings of depression. The client lives at home with her husband and two young
children. She currently smokes and has a history of chronic asthma. The nurse should identify
which of the following as risk factors for depression for this client? (Select all that apply.)
A. Age of 35 years old
B. Female gender
C. History of chronic asthma
D. Currently smokes
E. Being married - Answer ✓✓A, B, C, D
A. CORRECT: Depressive disorders are more prevalent in adults between the ages of 15 and
40. B. CORRECT: Depressive disorders are twice as common in females than in males. C.
CORRECT: Depressive disorders are more common in clients who have a chronic medical
illness. D. CORRECT: Depressive disorders are more common in clients who have a substance
use disorder, such as nicotine use disorder.
A+ 2
, ATI CAPSTONE MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
E. INCORRECT: Depressive disorders are more common in unmarried, rather than married,
clients.
CHAPTER 12 Depressive Disorders
A nurse working in an outpatient clinic is reinforcing teaching to a client who has a new
diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Which of the following statements by
the client indicates understanding of the teaching?
A. "I can expect my problems with PMDD to be worst when I'm menstruating."
B. "I will use light therapy 30 min a day to prevent further recurrences of PMDD."
C. "I am aware that my PMDD causes me to have rapid mood swings."
D. "I should increase my caloric intake with a nutritional supplement when my PMDD is
active." - Answer ✓✓C
C. CORRECT: A clinical finding of PMDD is emotional lability. The client can experience rapid
changes in mood.
A. INCORRECT: Clinical findings of PMDD are present during the luteal phase of the menstrual
cycle, just prior to menses. B. INCORRECT: Light therapy is a first-line treatment for seasonal
affective disorder, rather than PMDD. D. INCORRECT: PMDD increases the client's risk for
weight gain due to overeating. It is not appropriate to increase caloric intake.
CHAPTER 12 Depressive Disorders
A nurse is discussing the care of a client who has major depressive disorder (MDD) with a
newly licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse
indicates a need for further reinforcement of teaching?
A. "Care during the continuation phase focuses on treating continued manifestations of
MDD."
B. "The goal of treatment during the maintenance phase is prevention of future episodes of
MDD."
A+ 3
, ATI CAPSTONE MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
C. "The client is at greatest risk for suicide during the first weeks of an MDD episode."
D. "Medication and psychotherapy are used to prevent a relapse of MDD." - Answer ✓✓A
A. CORRECT: The focus of the continuation phase is relapse prevention. Treatment of
manifestations occurs during the acute phase of MDD.
B. INCORRECT: This statement does not indicate a need for further teaching. Prevention of
future depressive episodes is the goal of the maintenance phase of treatment. C. INCORRECT:
This statement does not indicate a need for further teaching. The client is at greatest risk for
suicide during the acute phase of MDD. D. INCORRECT: This statement does not indicate a
need for further teaching. Medication therapy and psychotherapy are used during the
continuation phase to prevent relapse of MDD.
CHAPTER 12 Depressive Disorders
A nurse working on an acute mental health unit is caring for a client who has major
depressive disorder and comorbid anxiety disorder. Which of the following is the highest
priority action by the nurse?
A. Placing the client on one-to-one observation
B. Assisting the client to perform ADLs
C. Encouraging the client to participate in counseling
D. Telling the client about medication adverse effects - Answer ✓✓A
A. CORRECT: The greatest risk for a client who has MDD and comorbid anxiety is injury due to
self-harm. The highest priority intervention is placing the client on one-to-one observation.
B. INCORRECT: The client who has MDD can require assistance with ADLs. However, this does
not address the greatest risk to the client and is therefore not the priority intervention. C.
INCORRECT: The nurse should encourage the client who has MDD to participate in counseling.
However, this does not address the greatest risk to the client and is therefore not the priority
intervention. D. INCORRECT: The nurse should tell the client who has MDD about medication
adverse effects. However, this does not address the greatest risk to the client and is therefore
not the priority intervention.
A+ 4
ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam
Questions and Verified Answers with
Detailed Rationales Graded A+
Guaranteed Pass 2025
A nurse observes a client who is pacing and wringing his hands. The client states, "I don't
know why, but I've worried every day for over a year that my son will die a horrible death."
This finding is consistent with which of the following disorders?
A. Generalized anxiety disorder
B. Panic disorder
C. Posttraumatic stress disorder
D. Acute stress disorder - Answer ✓✓A
A. CORRECT: Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by uncontrollable, excessive worry
for more than 3 months.
B. INCORRECT: Panic disorder is associated with recurrent panic attacks rather than chronic
worrying. C. INCORRECT: PTSD is associated with a specific traumatic event. D. INCORRECT:
Acute stress disorder is associated with a specific traumatic event.
CHAPTER 11 Anxiety Disorders
Concepts
A nurse working on an acute mental health unit is caring for a client who has posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). Which of the following are expected findings?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Hallucinations
A+ 1
, ATI CAPSTONE MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
B. Obsessive need to talk about the traumatic event
C. Exaggerated displays of emotion
D. Recurring nightmares
E. Diminished reflexes - Answer ✓✓A, D
A. CORRECT: Hallucinations associated with the traumatic event are an expected finding of
PTSD. D. CORRECT: Recurring nightmares associated with the traumatic event are an expected
finding of PTSD.
B. INCORRECT: Avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event is an expected
finding of PTSD. C. INCORRECT: The inability to show feelings or emotions is an expected
finding of PTSD. E. INCORRECT: Increased arousal, rather than diminished reflexes, is an
expected finding of PTSD.
CHAPTER 11 Anxiety Disorders
Concepts
A nurse working in an acute mental health facility is caring for a 35-year-old female client who
has clinical findings of depression. The client lives at home with her husband and two young
children. She currently smokes and has a history of chronic asthma. The nurse should identify
which of the following as risk factors for depression for this client? (Select all that apply.)
A. Age of 35 years old
B. Female gender
C. History of chronic asthma
D. Currently smokes
E. Being married - Answer ✓✓A, B, C, D
A. CORRECT: Depressive disorders are more prevalent in adults between the ages of 15 and
40. B. CORRECT: Depressive disorders are twice as common in females than in males. C.
CORRECT: Depressive disorders are more common in clients who have a chronic medical
illness. D. CORRECT: Depressive disorders are more common in clients who have a substance
use disorder, such as nicotine use disorder.
A+ 2
, ATI CAPSTONE MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
E. INCORRECT: Depressive disorders are more common in unmarried, rather than married,
clients.
CHAPTER 12 Depressive Disorders
A nurse working in an outpatient clinic is reinforcing teaching to a client who has a new
diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Which of the following statements by
the client indicates understanding of the teaching?
A. "I can expect my problems with PMDD to be worst when I'm menstruating."
B. "I will use light therapy 30 min a day to prevent further recurrences of PMDD."
C. "I am aware that my PMDD causes me to have rapid mood swings."
D. "I should increase my caloric intake with a nutritional supplement when my PMDD is
active." - Answer ✓✓C
C. CORRECT: A clinical finding of PMDD is emotional lability. The client can experience rapid
changes in mood.
A. INCORRECT: Clinical findings of PMDD are present during the luteal phase of the menstrual
cycle, just prior to menses. B. INCORRECT: Light therapy is a first-line treatment for seasonal
affective disorder, rather than PMDD. D. INCORRECT: PMDD increases the client's risk for
weight gain due to overeating. It is not appropriate to increase caloric intake.
CHAPTER 12 Depressive Disorders
A nurse is discussing the care of a client who has major depressive disorder (MDD) with a
newly licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse
indicates a need for further reinforcement of teaching?
A. "Care during the continuation phase focuses on treating continued manifestations of
MDD."
B. "The goal of treatment during the maintenance phase is prevention of future episodes of
MDD."
A+ 3
, ATI CAPSTONE MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
C. "The client is at greatest risk for suicide during the first weeks of an MDD episode."
D. "Medication and psychotherapy are used to prevent a relapse of MDD." - Answer ✓✓A
A. CORRECT: The focus of the continuation phase is relapse prevention. Treatment of
manifestations occurs during the acute phase of MDD.
B. INCORRECT: This statement does not indicate a need for further teaching. Prevention of
future depressive episodes is the goal of the maintenance phase of treatment. C. INCORRECT:
This statement does not indicate a need for further teaching. The client is at greatest risk for
suicide during the acute phase of MDD. D. INCORRECT: This statement does not indicate a
need for further teaching. Medication therapy and psychotherapy are used during the
continuation phase to prevent relapse of MDD.
CHAPTER 12 Depressive Disorders
A nurse working on an acute mental health unit is caring for a client who has major
depressive disorder and comorbid anxiety disorder. Which of the following is the highest
priority action by the nurse?
A. Placing the client on one-to-one observation
B. Assisting the client to perform ADLs
C. Encouraging the client to participate in counseling
D. Telling the client about medication adverse effects - Answer ✓✓A
A. CORRECT: The greatest risk for a client who has MDD and comorbid anxiety is injury due to
self-harm. The highest priority intervention is placing the client on one-to-one observation.
B. INCORRECT: The client who has MDD can require assistance with ADLs. However, this does
not address the greatest risk to the client and is therefore not the priority intervention. C.
INCORRECT: The nurse should encourage the client who has MDD to participate in counseling.
However, this does not address the greatest risk to the client and is therefore not the priority
intervention. D. INCORRECT: The nurse should tell the client who has MDD about medication
adverse effects. However, this does not address the greatest risk to the client and is therefore
not the priority intervention.
A+ 4
