Kaplan & Sadock’s Synopsis of
Psychiatry 12th Edition Test Bank 2026
| Brand New Version | All Chapters
with Answers & Rationales | A+
Guaranteed
1. A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing occasional feelings
of sadness because of the recent death of a beloved pet. The clients
appetite, sleep patterns, and daily routine have not changed. How should
the nurse interpret the clients behaviors?
1. The clients behaviors demonstrate mental illness in the form of
depression.
2. The clients behaviors are extensive, which indicates the presence of
mental illness.
3. The clients behaviors are not congruent with cultural norms.
4. The clients behaviors demonstrate no functional impairment,
indicating no mental illness.
----Solution☑️☑️☑️☑️ANS: 4
Rationale: The nurse should assess that the clients daily functioning is
not impaired. The client who experiences feelings of sadness after the
loss of a pet is responding within normal expectations. Without
significant impairment, the clients distress does not indicate a mental
illness.
,2. At what point should the nurse determine that a client is at risk for
developing a mental illness?
1. When thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are not reflective of the DSM-
5 criteria.
2. When maladaptive responses to stress are coupled with interference in
daily functioning.
3. When a client communicates significant distress.
4. When a client uses defense mechanisms as ego protection.
----Solution☑️☑️☑️☑️ANS: 2
Rationale: The nurse should determine that the client is at risk for mental
illness when responses to stress are maladaptive and interfere with daily
functioning. The DSM-5 indicates that in order to be diagnosed with a
mental illness, daily functioning must be significantly impaired. The
clients ability to communicate distress would be considered a positive
attribute.
3. A nurse is assessing a set of 15-year-old identical twins who respond
very differently to stress. One twin becomes anxious and irritable, and
the other withdraws and cries. How should the nurse explain these
different stress responses to the parents?
1. Reactions to stress are relative rather than absolute; individual
responses to stress vary.
2. It is abnormal for identical twins to react differently to similar
stressors.
3. Identical twins should share the same temperament and respond
similarly to stress.
, 4. Environmental influences to stress weigh more heavily than genetic
influences.
----Solution☑️☑️☑️☑️ANS: 1
Rationale: The nurse should explain to the parents that, although the
twins have identical DNA, there are several other factors that affect
reactions to stress. Mental health is a state of being that is relative to the
individual client. Environmental influences and temperament can affect
stress reactions.
4. Which client should the nurse anticipate to be most receptive to
psychiatric treatment?
1. A Jewish, female social worker.
2. A Baptist, homeless male.
3. A Catholic, black male.
4. A Protestant, Swedish business executive.
----Solution☑️☑️☑️☑️ANS: 1
Rationale: The nurse should anticipate that the client of Jewish culture
would place a high importance on preventative health care and would
consider mental health as equally important as physical health. Women
are also more likely to seek treatment for mental health problems than
men.
5. A psychiatric nurse intern states, This clients use of defense
mechanisms should be eliminated. Which is a correct evaluation of this
nurses statement?
1. Defense mechanisms can be appropriate responses to stress and need
not be eliminated.
Psychiatry 12th Edition Test Bank 2026
| Brand New Version | All Chapters
with Answers & Rationales | A+
Guaranteed
1. A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing occasional feelings
of sadness because of the recent death of a beloved pet. The clients
appetite, sleep patterns, and daily routine have not changed. How should
the nurse interpret the clients behaviors?
1. The clients behaviors demonstrate mental illness in the form of
depression.
2. The clients behaviors are extensive, which indicates the presence of
mental illness.
3. The clients behaviors are not congruent with cultural norms.
4. The clients behaviors demonstrate no functional impairment,
indicating no mental illness.
----Solution☑️☑️☑️☑️ANS: 4
Rationale: The nurse should assess that the clients daily functioning is
not impaired. The client who experiences feelings of sadness after the
loss of a pet is responding within normal expectations. Without
significant impairment, the clients distress does not indicate a mental
illness.
,2. At what point should the nurse determine that a client is at risk for
developing a mental illness?
1. When thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are not reflective of the DSM-
5 criteria.
2. When maladaptive responses to stress are coupled with interference in
daily functioning.
3. When a client communicates significant distress.
4. When a client uses defense mechanisms as ego protection.
----Solution☑️☑️☑️☑️ANS: 2
Rationale: The nurse should determine that the client is at risk for mental
illness when responses to stress are maladaptive and interfere with daily
functioning. The DSM-5 indicates that in order to be diagnosed with a
mental illness, daily functioning must be significantly impaired. The
clients ability to communicate distress would be considered a positive
attribute.
3. A nurse is assessing a set of 15-year-old identical twins who respond
very differently to stress. One twin becomes anxious and irritable, and
the other withdraws and cries. How should the nurse explain these
different stress responses to the parents?
1. Reactions to stress are relative rather than absolute; individual
responses to stress vary.
2. It is abnormal for identical twins to react differently to similar
stressors.
3. Identical twins should share the same temperament and respond
similarly to stress.
, 4. Environmental influences to stress weigh more heavily than genetic
influences.
----Solution☑️☑️☑️☑️ANS: 1
Rationale: The nurse should explain to the parents that, although the
twins have identical DNA, there are several other factors that affect
reactions to stress. Mental health is a state of being that is relative to the
individual client. Environmental influences and temperament can affect
stress reactions.
4. Which client should the nurse anticipate to be most receptive to
psychiatric treatment?
1. A Jewish, female social worker.
2. A Baptist, homeless male.
3. A Catholic, black male.
4. A Protestant, Swedish business executive.
----Solution☑️☑️☑️☑️ANS: 1
Rationale: The nurse should anticipate that the client of Jewish culture
would place a high importance on preventative health care and would
consider mental health as equally important as physical health. Women
are also more likely to seek treatment for mental health problems than
men.
5. A psychiatric nurse intern states, This clients use of defense
mechanisms should be eliminated. Which is a correct evaluation of this
nurses statement?
1. Defense mechanisms can be appropriate responses to stress and need
not be eliminated.
