Chapter 25: Other Conditions that May be a Focus of Clinical
Attention
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. An adult outpatient diagnosed with major depression has a history of several suicide attempts
by overdose. Given this patients history and diagnosis, which antidepressant medication would
the nurse expect to be prescribed?
a. Amitriptyline (Elavil), a sedating tricyclic medication
b. Fluoxetine (Prozac), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
c. Desipramine (Norpramin), a stimulating tricyclic medication
d. Tranylcypromine sulfate (Parnate), a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
ANS: B
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants are very safe in overdosage situations,
which is not true of the other medications listed. Given this patients history of overdosing, it is
important that the medication be as safe as possible in case she takes an overdose of her
prescribed medication.
2. Four individuals have given information about their suicide plans. Which plan evidences the
highest suicide risk?
a. Turning on the oven and letting gas escape into the apartment during the night
b. Cutting the wrists in the bathroom while the spouse reads in the next room
c. Overdosing on aspirin with codeine while the spouse is out with friends
d. Jumping from a railroad bridge located in a deserted area late at night
ANS: D
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,This is a highly lethal method with little opportunity for rescue. The other options are lower
lethality methods with higher rescue potential. See relationship to audience response question.
3. Which measure would be considered a form of primary prevention for suicide?
a. Psychiatric hospitalization of a suicidal patient
b. Referral of a formerly suicidal patient to a support group
c. Suicide precautions for 24 hours for newly admitted patients
d. Helping school children learn to manage stress and be resilient
ANS: D
This measure promotes effective coping and reduces the likelihood that such children will
become suicidal later in life. Admissions and suicide precautions are secondary prevention
measures. Support group referral is a tertiary prevention measure.
4. Which change in the brains biochemical function is most associated with suicidal behavior?
a. Dopamine excess c. Acetylcholine excess
b. Serotonin deficiency d. Gamma-aminobutyric acid
deficiency
ANS: B
Research suggests that low levels of serotonin may play a role in the decision to commit suicide.
The other neurotransmitter alterations have not been implicated in suicidality.
5. A college student who failed two tests cried for hours and then tried to telephone a parent but
got no answer. The student then gave several expensive sweaters to a roommate and asked to be
left alone for a few hours. Which behavior provides the strongest clue of an impending suicide
attempt?
a. Calling parents c. Giving away sweaters
b. Excessive crying d. Staying alone in dorm room
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, ANS: C
Giving away prized possessions may signal that the individual thinks he or she will have no
further need for the item, such as when a suicide plan has been formulated. Calling parents,
remaining in a dorm, and crying do not provide direct clues to suicide.
6. A nurse uses the SAD PERSONS scale to interview a patient. This tool provides data relevant
to:
a. current stress level. c. suicide potential.
b. mood disturbance. d. level of anxiety.
ANS: C
The SAD PERSONS tool evaluates 10 major risk factors in suicide potential: sex, age,
depression, previous attempt, ethanol use, rational thinking loss, social supports lacking,
organized plan, no spouse, and sickness. The tool does not have categories to provide
information on the other options listed.
7. A person intentionally overdosed on antidepressants. Which nursing diagnosis has the highest
priority?
a. Powerlessness c. Risk for suicide
b. Social isolation d. Compromised family coping
ANS: C
This diagnosis is the only one with life-or-death ramifications and is therefore of higher priority
than the other options.
8. A person who attempted suicide by overdose was treated in the emergency department and
then hospitalized. The initial outcome is that the patient will:
a. verbalize a will to live by the end of the second hospital day.
b. describe two new coping mechanisms by the end of the third hospital day.
HTTPS://PASINGGRADES.COM/
Attention
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. An adult outpatient diagnosed with major depression has a history of several suicide attempts
by overdose. Given this patients history and diagnosis, which antidepressant medication would
the nurse expect to be prescribed?
a. Amitriptyline (Elavil), a sedating tricyclic medication
b. Fluoxetine (Prozac), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
c. Desipramine (Norpramin), a stimulating tricyclic medication
d. Tranylcypromine sulfate (Parnate), a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
ANS: B
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants are very safe in overdosage situations,
which is not true of the other medications listed. Given this patients history of overdosing, it is
important that the medication be as safe as possible in case she takes an overdose of her
prescribed medication.
2. Four individuals have given information about their suicide plans. Which plan evidences the
highest suicide risk?
a. Turning on the oven and letting gas escape into the apartment during the night
b. Cutting the wrists in the bathroom while the spouse reads in the next room
c. Overdosing on aspirin with codeine while the spouse is out with friends
d. Jumping from a railroad bridge located in a deserted area late at night
ANS: D
HTTPS://PASINGGRADES.COM/
,This is a highly lethal method with little opportunity for rescue. The other options are lower
lethality methods with higher rescue potential. See relationship to audience response question.
3. Which measure would be considered a form of primary prevention for suicide?
a. Psychiatric hospitalization of a suicidal patient
b. Referral of a formerly suicidal patient to a support group
c. Suicide precautions for 24 hours for newly admitted patients
d. Helping school children learn to manage stress and be resilient
ANS: D
This measure promotes effective coping and reduces the likelihood that such children will
become suicidal later in life. Admissions and suicide precautions are secondary prevention
measures. Support group referral is a tertiary prevention measure.
4. Which change in the brains biochemical function is most associated with suicidal behavior?
a. Dopamine excess c. Acetylcholine excess
b. Serotonin deficiency d. Gamma-aminobutyric acid
deficiency
ANS: B
Research suggests that low levels of serotonin may play a role in the decision to commit suicide.
The other neurotransmitter alterations have not been implicated in suicidality.
5. A college student who failed two tests cried for hours and then tried to telephone a parent but
got no answer. The student then gave several expensive sweaters to a roommate and asked to be
left alone for a few hours. Which behavior provides the strongest clue of an impending suicide
attempt?
a. Calling parents c. Giving away sweaters
b. Excessive crying d. Staying alone in dorm room
HTTPS://PASINGGRADES.COM/
, ANS: C
Giving away prized possessions may signal that the individual thinks he or she will have no
further need for the item, such as when a suicide plan has been formulated. Calling parents,
remaining in a dorm, and crying do not provide direct clues to suicide.
6. A nurse uses the SAD PERSONS scale to interview a patient. This tool provides data relevant
to:
a. current stress level. c. suicide potential.
b. mood disturbance. d. level of anxiety.
ANS: C
The SAD PERSONS tool evaluates 10 major risk factors in suicide potential: sex, age,
depression, previous attempt, ethanol use, rational thinking loss, social supports lacking,
organized plan, no spouse, and sickness. The tool does not have categories to provide
information on the other options listed.
7. A person intentionally overdosed on antidepressants. Which nursing diagnosis has the highest
priority?
a. Powerlessness c. Risk for suicide
b. Social isolation d. Compromised family coping
ANS: C
This diagnosis is the only one with life-or-death ramifications and is therefore of higher priority
than the other options.
8. A person who attempted suicide by overdose was treated in the emergency department and
then hospitalized. The initial outcome is that the patient will:
a. verbalize a will to live by the end of the second hospital day.
b. describe two new coping mechanisms by the end of the third hospital day.
HTTPS://PASINGGRADES.COM/
