Test Bank For Neeb's Mental Health Nursing
5th Edition By Linda M. Gorman, Robynn
Anwar Chapter 1-22 |Complete Guide A+
Chapters 1–5: Questions 1–50
1. Which statement best describes mental health?
A. Absence of mental illness
B. Ability to handle stress and adapt to change
C. Having no emotional reactions
D. Always feeling happy
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Mental health involves the ability to cope with stress, adapt to change, and maintain
functioning—not merely the absence of illness.
2. A patient reports persistent sadness and loss of interest in daily activities. Which
condition is most likely?
A. Bipolar disorder
B. Major depressive disorder
C. Schizophrenia
D. Generalized anxiety disorder
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Persistent sadness and loss of interest are hallmark symptoms of major depressive
disorder.
3. Which nursing action is most important when establishing rapport with a new patient?
A. Giving advice immediately
B. Listening actively and without judgment
C. Sharing personal experiences
D. Ignoring nonverbal cues
,Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Active listening and nonjudgmental presence are foundational for establishing trust
and therapeutic rapport.
4. A nurse observes a patient pacing and wringing hands. This behavior is best
documented as:
A. Thought disorder
B. Affective symptom
C. Psychomotor agitation
D. Cognitive deficit
Answer: C ✅
Rationale: Psychomotor agitation includes increased movements like pacing or hand-wringing
due to anxiety or tension.
5. Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with mood regulation and depression?
A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin
C. Acetylcholine
D. GABA
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Low levels of serotonin are linked to mood disorders such as depression.
6. Which phase of the nurse-patient relationship focuses on establishing trust?
A. Orientation phase
B. Working phase
C. Termination phase
D. Preinteraction phase
Answer: A ✅
Rationale: The orientation phase involves establishing rapport, trust, and setting goals.
7. A patient with schizophrenia is experiencing auditory hallucinations. The nurse’s best
response is:
A. “These voices aren’t real; ignore them.”
B. “Tell me what the voices are saying.”
C. “I hear them too.”
D. “You need medication immediately.”
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Asking the patient to describe hallucinations allows understanding of content,
triggers, and risk without reinforcing the delusion.
8. Which intervention is priority for a patient with acute mania?
A. Encourage long-term planning
,B. Provide a structured environment
C. Promote group therapy participation
D. Avoid setting limits
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: A structured environment helps reduce overstimulation and risk in acute mania.
9. Which factor contributes most to the development of PTSD?
A. Chronic stress in childhood
B. Exposure to a traumatic event
C. Genetic inheritance
D. Low socioeconomic status
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: PTSD develops after exposure to traumatic events such as violence, accidents, or
disasters.
10. Which is a priority outcome for a patient with suicidal ideation?
A. Improved social interactions
B. Safety and prevention of self-harm
C. Regular sleep patterns
D. Participation in group therapy
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Immediate safety and prevention of self-harm take precedence over other goals.
11. Which defense mechanism involves attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts to
someone else?
A. Repression
B. Projection
C. Sublimation
D. Regression
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Projection is attributing one’s own unacceptable feelings or thoughts to another
person.
12. A patient repeatedly washes hands to reduce anxiety. This behavior is characteristic
of:
A. Panic disorder
B. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
, C. Social anxiety disorder
D. Generalized anxiety disorder
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: OCD involves obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (ritualistic
behaviors) aimed at reducing anxiety.
13. Which symptom is most commonly seen in borderline personality disorder?
A. Delusions of grandeur
B. Fear of abandonment
C. Flat affect
D. Obsessive rituals
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Fear of abandonment and unstable relationships are hallmark features of borderline
personality disorder.
14. A patient with depression refuses to eat. The nurse’s best initial action is:
A. Force-feeding
B. Assess for underlying causes
C. Ignore behavior
D. Provide psychotherapy immediately
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Assessing for underlying causes such as suicidal ideation or medical issues is the
priority before interventions.
15. Which medication class is first-line for generalized anxiety disorder?
A. Tricyclic antidepressants
B. SSRIs
C. Typical antipsychotics
D. Benzodiazepines only
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: SSRIs are considered first-line for long-term management of anxiety disorders.
16. Which intervention is most therapeutic for a patient experiencing hallucinations?
A. Arguing with the patient
B. Validating their feelings and redirecting attention
C. Ignoring the hallucination
D. Encouraging group discussion of hallucinations
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Validating feelings while redirecting attention helps maintain safety without
reinforcing the hallucination.
5th Edition By Linda M. Gorman, Robynn
Anwar Chapter 1-22 |Complete Guide A+
Chapters 1–5: Questions 1–50
1. Which statement best describes mental health?
A. Absence of mental illness
B. Ability to handle stress and adapt to change
C. Having no emotional reactions
D. Always feeling happy
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Mental health involves the ability to cope with stress, adapt to change, and maintain
functioning—not merely the absence of illness.
2. A patient reports persistent sadness and loss of interest in daily activities. Which
condition is most likely?
A. Bipolar disorder
B. Major depressive disorder
C. Schizophrenia
D. Generalized anxiety disorder
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Persistent sadness and loss of interest are hallmark symptoms of major depressive
disorder.
3. Which nursing action is most important when establishing rapport with a new patient?
A. Giving advice immediately
B. Listening actively and without judgment
C. Sharing personal experiences
D. Ignoring nonverbal cues
,Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Active listening and nonjudgmental presence are foundational for establishing trust
and therapeutic rapport.
4. A nurse observes a patient pacing and wringing hands. This behavior is best
documented as:
A. Thought disorder
B. Affective symptom
C. Psychomotor agitation
D. Cognitive deficit
Answer: C ✅
Rationale: Psychomotor agitation includes increased movements like pacing or hand-wringing
due to anxiety or tension.
5. Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with mood regulation and depression?
A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin
C. Acetylcholine
D. GABA
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Low levels of serotonin are linked to mood disorders such as depression.
6. Which phase of the nurse-patient relationship focuses on establishing trust?
A. Orientation phase
B. Working phase
C. Termination phase
D. Preinteraction phase
Answer: A ✅
Rationale: The orientation phase involves establishing rapport, trust, and setting goals.
7. A patient with schizophrenia is experiencing auditory hallucinations. The nurse’s best
response is:
A. “These voices aren’t real; ignore them.”
B. “Tell me what the voices are saying.”
C. “I hear them too.”
D. “You need medication immediately.”
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Asking the patient to describe hallucinations allows understanding of content,
triggers, and risk without reinforcing the delusion.
8. Which intervention is priority for a patient with acute mania?
A. Encourage long-term planning
,B. Provide a structured environment
C. Promote group therapy participation
D. Avoid setting limits
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: A structured environment helps reduce overstimulation and risk in acute mania.
9. Which factor contributes most to the development of PTSD?
A. Chronic stress in childhood
B. Exposure to a traumatic event
C. Genetic inheritance
D. Low socioeconomic status
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: PTSD develops after exposure to traumatic events such as violence, accidents, or
disasters.
10. Which is a priority outcome for a patient with suicidal ideation?
A. Improved social interactions
B. Safety and prevention of self-harm
C. Regular sleep patterns
D. Participation in group therapy
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Immediate safety and prevention of self-harm take precedence over other goals.
11. Which defense mechanism involves attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts to
someone else?
A. Repression
B. Projection
C. Sublimation
D. Regression
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Projection is attributing one’s own unacceptable feelings or thoughts to another
person.
12. A patient repeatedly washes hands to reduce anxiety. This behavior is characteristic
of:
A. Panic disorder
B. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
, C. Social anxiety disorder
D. Generalized anxiety disorder
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: OCD involves obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (ritualistic
behaviors) aimed at reducing anxiety.
13. Which symptom is most commonly seen in borderline personality disorder?
A. Delusions of grandeur
B. Fear of abandonment
C. Flat affect
D. Obsessive rituals
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Fear of abandonment and unstable relationships are hallmark features of borderline
personality disorder.
14. A patient with depression refuses to eat. The nurse’s best initial action is:
A. Force-feeding
B. Assess for underlying causes
C. Ignore behavior
D. Provide psychotherapy immediately
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Assessing for underlying causes such as suicidal ideation or medical issues is the
priority before interventions.
15. Which medication class is first-line for generalized anxiety disorder?
A. Tricyclic antidepressants
B. SSRIs
C. Typical antipsychotics
D. Benzodiazepines only
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: SSRIs are considered first-line for long-term management of anxiety disorders.
16. Which intervention is most therapeutic for a patient experiencing hallucinations?
A. Arguing with the patient
B. Validating their feelings and redirecting attention
C. Ignoring the hallucination
D. Encouraging group discussion of hallucinations
Answer: B ✅
Rationale: Validating feelings while redirecting attention helps maintain safety without
reinforcing the hallucination.
