Page 1 of 29
NCLEX PSYCH PHARMACOLOGY QUIZ 2026 QUESTIONS
LATEST EXAM SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED
100% GRADED A+
Which nursing diagnosis reflects the intrapersonal theory of the etiology of
obsessive-compulsive disorder?
1. Ineffective coping R /T punitive superego.
2. Ineffective coping R /T active avoidance.
3. Ineffective coping R /T alteration in serotonin.
4. Ineffective coping R /T classic conditioning.
1. Ineffective coping R /T punitive superego
reflects an intrapersonal theory of the etiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD). The punitive superego is a concept contained in Freud's psychosocial theory
of personality development.
TEST-TAKING HINT: To answer this question correctly, the test taker needs to
understand the different theories of the etiology of OCD. The keyword "intrapersonal"
should make the test taker look for a concept inherent in this theory, such as
"punitive superego."
The nurse is using an intrapersonal approach to assist a client in dealing with
survivor's guilt. Which intervention would be appropriate?
1. Encourage the client to attend a survivor's group.
2. Encourage expression of feelings during one-to-one interactions with the
nurse.
3. Ask the client to challenge the irrational beliefs associated with the event.
4. Administer regularly scheduled paroxetine (Paxil) to deal with depressive
symptoms.
2. Encouraging expressions of feelings
during one-to-one interactions with the nurse is an intrapersonal approach to
interventions that treat survivor's guilt associated with PTSD.
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TEST-TAKING HINT: To answer this question correctly, the test taker needs to
differentiate various theoretical approaches and which interventions reflect these
theories.
A client diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder states to the nurse, "All
those wonderful people died, and yet I was allowed to live." Which is the client
experiencing?
1. Denial.
2. Social isolation.
3. Anger.
4. Survivor's guilt.
4. The client in the question is experiencing
survivor's guilt. Survivor's guilt is a common
situation that occurs when an individual
experiences a traumatic event in which
others died and the individual survived.
TEST-TAKING HINT: To answer this question correctly, the test taker needs to
understand common phenomena experienced by individuals diagnosed with
posttraumatic stress disorder and relate this understanding to the client statement
presented in the question.
Clients diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder commonly use which
mechanism?
1. Suppression.
2. Repression.
3. Undoing.
4. Denial.
3. Undoing is a defense mechanism commonly used by individuals diagnosed with
OCD. Undoing is used symbolically to
negate or cancel out an intolerable previous action or experience. An individual
diagnosed with OCD experiencing intolerable anxiety would use the defense
mechanism of undoing to undo this anxiety by substituting obsessions or
compulsions or both. Other commonly used defense mechanisms are isolation,
displacement, and reaction formation.
, Page 3 of 29
TEST-TAKING HINT: To answer this question correctly, the test taker needs to
understand the underlying reasons for the ritualistic behaviors used by individuals
diagnosed with OCD.
Which of the following would the nurse expect to assess in a client diagnosed
with posttraumatic stress disorder? Select all that apply.
1. Dissociative events.
2. Intense fear and helplessness.
3. Excessive attachment and dependence toward others.
4. Full range of affect.
5. Avoidance of activities that are associated with the trauma.
1. A client diagnosed with posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) may have dissociative events in which the client feels
detached from the situation or feelings.
2. A client diagnosed with PTSD may have
intense fear and feelings of helplessness.
5. A client diagnosed with PTSD avoids activities associated with the traumatic
event.
TEST-TAKING HINT: To answer this question correctly, the test taker must be aware
of the different symptoms associated with the diagnosis of PTSD.
When treating individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder, which variables
are included in the recovery environment?
1. Degree of ego strength.
2. Availability of social supports.
3. Severity and duration of the stressor.
4. Amount of control over reoccurrence.
2. Availability of social supports is part of
environmental variables. Others include
cohesiveness and protectiveness of family
and friends, attitudes of society regarding
the experience, and cultural and subcultural
influences.
TEST-TAKING HINT: To answer this question correctly, the test taker needs to
understand the following three significant elements in the development of
NCLEX PSYCH PHARMACOLOGY QUIZ 2026 QUESTIONS
LATEST EXAM SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED
100% GRADED A+
Which nursing diagnosis reflects the intrapersonal theory of the etiology of
obsessive-compulsive disorder?
1. Ineffective coping R /T punitive superego.
2. Ineffective coping R /T active avoidance.
3. Ineffective coping R /T alteration in serotonin.
4. Ineffective coping R /T classic conditioning.
1. Ineffective coping R /T punitive superego
reflects an intrapersonal theory of the etiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD). The punitive superego is a concept contained in Freud's psychosocial theory
of personality development.
TEST-TAKING HINT: To answer this question correctly, the test taker needs to
understand the different theories of the etiology of OCD. The keyword "intrapersonal"
should make the test taker look for a concept inherent in this theory, such as
"punitive superego."
The nurse is using an intrapersonal approach to assist a client in dealing with
survivor's guilt. Which intervention would be appropriate?
1. Encourage the client to attend a survivor's group.
2. Encourage expression of feelings during one-to-one interactions with the
nurse.
3. Ask the client to challenge the irrational beliefs associated with the event.
4. Administer regularly scheduled paroxetine (Paxil) to deal with depressive
symptoms.
2. Encouraging expressions of feelings
during one-to-one interactions with the nurse is an intrapersonal approach to
interventions that treat survivor's guilt associated with PTSD.
,Page 2 of 29
TEST-TAKING HINT: To answer this question correctly, the test taker needs to
differentiate various theoretical approaches and which interventions reflect these
theories.
A client diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder states to the nurse, "All
those wonderful people died, and yet I was allowed to live." Which is the client
experiencing?
1. Denial.
2. Social isolation.
3. Anger.
4. Survivor's guilt.
4. The client in the question is experiencing
survivor's guilt. Survivor's guilt is a common
situation that occurs when an individual
experiences a traumatic event in which
others died and the individual survived.
TEST-TAKING HINT: To answer this question correctly, the test taker needs to
understand common phenomena experienced by individuals diagnosed with
posttraumatic stress disorder and relate this understanding to the client statement
presented in the question.
Clients diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder commonly use which
mechanism?
1. Suppression.
2. Repression.
3. Undoing.
4. Denial.
3. Undoing is a defense mechanism commonly used by individuals diagnosed with
OCD. Undoing is used symbolically to
negate or cancel out an intolerable previous action or experience. An individual
diagnosed with OCD experiencing intolerable anxiety would use the defense
mechanism of undoing to undo this anxiety by substituting obsessions or
compulsions or both. Other commonly used defense mechanisms are isolation,
displacement, and reaction formation.
, Page 3 of 29
TEST-TAKING HINT: To answer this question correctly, the test taker needs to
understand the underlying reasons for the ritualistic behaviors used by individuals
diagnosed with OCD.
Which of the following would the nurse expect to assess in a client diagnosed
with posttraumatic stress disorder? Select all that apply.
1. Dissociative events.
2. Intense fear and helplessness.
3. Excessive attachment and dependence toward others.
4. Full range of affect.
5. Avoidance of activities that are associated with the trauma.
1. A client diagnosed with posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) may have dissociative events in which the client feels
detached from the situation or feelings.
2. A client diagnosed with PTSD may have
intense fear and feelings of helplessness.
5. A client diagnosed with PTSD avoids activities associated with the traumatic
event.
TEST-TAKING HINT: To answer this question correctly, the test taker must be aware
of the different symptoms associated with the diagnosis of PTSD.
When treating individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder, which variables
are included in the recovery environment?
1. Degree of ego strength.
2. Availability of social supports.
3. Severity and duration of the stressor.
4. Amount of control over reoccurrence.
2. Availability of social supports is part of
environmental variables. Others include
cohesiveness and protectiveness of family
and friends, attitudes of society regarding
the experience, and cultural and subcultural
influences.
TEST-TAKING HINT: To answer this question correctly, the test taker needs to
understand the following three significant elements in the development of
