Galen NSG 3450 Nursing Practice - Mental Health: Final Exam
(Comprehensive) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. The AIMS (Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale) is used to monitor:
A. Depression
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Anxiety
D. Cognition
Correct Answer: B. Tardive dyskinesia
Rationale: Tardive dyskinesia can be permanent. Depression, anxiety and cognition are measured with
other tools.
2. SNRIs such as venlafaxine and duloxetine may cause:
A. Hypotension only
B. Weight loss always
C. Increased blood pressure
D. Bradycardia
Correct Answer: C. Increased blood pressure
Rationale: Monitor BP, especially at higher doses. Norepinephrine effects can raise blood pressure rather
than lower it.
3. Grief is best described as:
A. A mental disorder
B. A normal response to loss that varies among individuals
C. Always lasting 6 months
D. Unhealthy
Correct Answer: B. A normal response to loss that varies among individuals
Rationale: Grief has emotional, physical, cognitive and spiritual dimensions. Grief is not a disorder and
has no fixed timeline.
,4. Cultural practices around death and mourning should be:
A. Ignored
B. Respected and accommodated whenever possible
C. Changed by staff
D. Discouraged
Correct Answer: B. Respected and accommodated whenever possible
Rationale: Ask families about rituals and preferences. Ignoring rituals can deepen distress for families.
5. Insight refers to:
A. Intelligence
B. Memory
C. Orientation
D. The client's understanding of their illness and need for treatment
Correct Answer: D. The client's understanding of their illness and need for treatment
Rationale: Poor insight is common in psychosis and affects adherence. Insight is not intelligence or
memory; it is awareness of illness.
6. 'Presenting reality' is used when a client:
A. Asks for advice
B. Is grieving
C. Talks about the weather
D. Expresses hallucinations or misperceptions
Correct Answer: D. Expresses hallucinations or misperceptions
Rationale: For example: 'I don't hear voices, but I understand they seem real to you.' This avoids arguing
while not reinforcing perceptions. This technique neither argues nor agrees with the misperception.
7. Agoraphobia involves fear of:
A. Situations where escape may be difficult or help unavailable
B. Spiders
C. Public speaking only
D. Germs
Correct Answer: A. Situations where escape may be difficult or help unavailable
Rationale: Clients may become homebound. Fears of spiders or germs are specific phobias or
OCD-related.
, 8. Crisis is defined as:
A. A chronic mental illness
B. A personality trait
C. A disturbance caused by a stressor that overwhelms usual coping mechanisms
D. A planned event
Correct Answer: C. A disturbance caused by a stressor that overwhelms usual coping
mechanisms
Rationale: Crises are time-limited, usually 4-6 weeks. A crisis is time-limited, unlike chronic illness or
personality traits.
9. Childhood trauma is linked to adult health outcomes through:
A. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increasing risk of chronic disease and mental illness
B. No connection
C. Only genetics
D. Only diet
Correct Answer: A. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increasing risk of chronic disease
and mental illness
Rationale: The ACE study showed a dose-response relationship. The ACE study showed more adversity
is linked to higher health risks.
10. Evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD include:
A. Free association
B. Hypnosis only
C. Aversion therapy
D. Cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure and EMDR
Correct Answer: D. Cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure and EMDR
Rationale: Trauma-focused therapies have the strongest evidence. Free association and aversion
therapy are not trauma-focused treatments.
(Comprehensive) - Questions with Correct Answers
100 questions
1. The AIMS (Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale) is used to monitor:
A. Depression
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Anxiety
D. Cognition
Correct Answer: B. Tardive dyskinesia
Rationale: Tardive dyskinesia can be permanent. Depression, anxiety and cognition are measured with
other tools.
2. SNRIs such as venlafaxine and duloxetine may cause:
A. Hypotension only
B. Weight loss always
C. Increased blood pressure
D. Bradycardia
Correct Answer: C. Increased blood pressure
Rationale: Monitor BP, especially at higher doses. Norepinephrine effects can raise blood pressure rather
than lower it.
3. Grief is best described as:
A. A mental disorder
B. A normal response to loss that varies among individuals
C. Always lasting 6 months
D. Unhealthy
Correct Answer: B. A normal response to loss that varies among individuals
Rationale: Grief has emotional, physical, cognitive and spiritual dimensions. Grief is not a disorder and
has no fixed timeline.
,4. Cultural practices around death and mourning should be:
A. Ignored
B. Respected and accommodated whenever possible
C. Changed by staff
D. Discouraged
Correct Answer: B. Respected and accommodated whenever possible
Rationale: Ask families about rituals and preferences. Ignoring rituals can deepen distress for families.
5. Insight refers to:
A. Intelligence
B. Memory
C. Orientation
D. The client's understanding of their illness and need for treatment
Correct Answer: D. The client's understanding of their illness and need for treatment
Rationale: Poor insight is common in psychosis and affects adherence. Insight is not intelligence or
memory; it is awareness of illness.
6. 'Presenting reality' is used when a client:
A. Asks for advice
B. Is grieving
C. Talks about the weather
D. Expresses hallucinations or misperceptions
Correct Answer: D. Expresses hallucinations or misperceptions
Rationale: For example: 'I don't hear voices, but I understand they seem real to you.' This avoids arguing
while not reinforcing perceptions. This technique neither argues nor agrees with the misperception.
7. Agoraphobia involves fear of:
A. Situations where escape may be difficult or help unavailable
B. Spiders
C. Public speaking only
D. Germs
Correct Answer: A. Situations where escape may be difficult or help unavailable
Rationale: Clients may become homebound. Fears of spiders or germs are specific phobias or
OCD-related.
, 8. Crisis is defined as:
A. A chronic mental illness
B. A personality trait
C. A disturbance caused by a stressor that overwhelms usual coping mechanisms
D. A planned event
Correct Answer: C. A disturbance caused by a stressor that overwhelms usual coping
mechanisms
Rationale: Crises are time-limited, usually 4-6 weeks. A crisis is time-limited, unlike chronic illness or
personality traits.
9. Childhood trauma is linked to adult health outcomes through:
A. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increasing risk of chronic disease and mental illness
B. No connection
C. Only genetics
D. Only diet
Correct Answer: A. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increasing risk of chronic disease
and mental illness
Rationale: The ACE study showed a dose-response relationship. The ACE study showed more adversity
is linked to higher health risks.
10. Evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD include:
A. Free association
B. Hypnosis only
C. Aversion therapy
D. Cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure and EMDR
Correct Answer: D. Cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure and EMDR
Rationale: Trauma-focused therapies have the strongest evidence. Free association and aversion
therapy are not trauma-focused treatments.
