N421: Mental Health and Cognition questions with
correct answers
Mental Health Wellness Correct Answer-1) Prevention of mental illness
(early)
2) Promote physical wellness
3) Assess older adult support systems → depression could be secondary
to changes in life roles, deaths of people close to them, and medication
side effects
Difficulties in Diagnosing Mental Health Correct Answer-NB. Positive
mental health is a necessary component of successful aging
1) Chronic illness
2) Polypharmacy = a side effect of many medications is depression
3) Stigma and ageism = older adults NOT willing to say that they are
depressed because they are afraid that it will reduce their
INDEPENDENCE
Mood Correct Answer-1) How a person feels
2) Mood spectrum is a CONTINUUM (eg. severe melancholy → severe
mania)
3) Mood disturbances disrupt an individual's ability to function normally
Affect Correct Answer-1) Observable response a person has to his/her
own feelings
,2) Eg. Parkinson's patient = may have lost the ability to verbalize →
nurse has to read their affect and determine if they have signs of
depression (VERY difficult because PD patients have flat affects)
Criteria for Depression Correct Answer-1) Depression or despondent
mood marked by decreased energy, feeling worthless and guilty,
problems with concentration, and thoughts of death or suicide
2) Can lead to increased disability, premature death, increased
morbidity, cognitive decline, increased risk of institutionalization, and a
significant decreased in QOL
Populations at Greatest Risk for Depression Correct Answer-1) Women
>85 yo (higher risk than individuals in their 6th decade)
2) Unmarried → living in urban areas or LTC facilities
3) Physical illness, chronic illness, disability, and chronic pain
4) Decreased social support
5) Low SES
6) Experience significant loss (especially if older adult's identity was
connected to that deceased person) → eg. GG always married to
granddad, has to redefine her whole personhood
7) Overwhelmed by stress
8) Older adults with dementia (increased risk)
Individual Risk Factors for Depression Correct Answer-1) Stress
2) Early trauma
3) Neglect
, 4) Abuse
5) Family history
6) Co-morbid medical and psychiatric disorders
7) Personality disorders
8) Substance dependence
Depression Correct Answer-1) Clinical syndrome
2) Rate of depression INCREASES with age
3) Often misdiagnosed, undetected, untreated, and unreported
Signs of Depression for the Nurse to be Aware of Correct Answer-1)
Older adult who says that they are "too tired to do anything with my
kids"
2) Continuously withdrawing from activities
3) Chronic multiple complaints (for which there are no underlying
pathophysiology)
Medical Conditions that Increase the Risk for Depression Correct
Answer-NB. Many of these conditions result in a loss of physical
function and loss of independence
1) Hypothyroidism
2) Multiple sclerosis
3) HTN
4) Arthritis
correct answers
Mental Health Wellness Correct Answer-1) Prevention of mental illness
(early)
2) Promote physical wellness
3) Assess older adult support systems → depression could be secondary
to changes in life roles, deaths of people close to them, and medication
side effects
Difficulties in Diagnosing Mental Health Correct Answer-NB. Positive
mental health is a necessary component of successful aging
1) Chronic illness
2) Polypharmacy = a side effect of many medications is depression
3) Stigma and ageism = older adults NOT willing to say that they are
depressed because they are afraid that it will reduce their
INDEPENDENCE
Mood Correct Answer-1) How a person feels
2) Mood spectrum is a CONTINUUM (eg. severe melancholy → severe
mania)
3) Mood disturbances disrupt an individual's ability to function normally
Affect Correct Answer-1) Observable response a person has to his/her
own feelings
,2) Eg. Parkinson's patient = may have lost the ability to verbalize →
nurse has to read their affect and determine if they have signs of
depression (VERY difficult because PD patients have flat affects)
Criteria for Depression Correct Answer-1) Depression or despondent
mood marked by decreased energy, feeling worthless and guilty,
problems with concentration, and thoughts of death or suicide
2) Can lead to increased disability, premature death, increased
morbidity, cognitive decline, increased risk of institutionalization, and a
significant decreased in QOL
Populations at Greatest Risk for Depression Correct Answer-1) Women
>85 yo (higher risk than individuals in their 6th decade)
2) Unmarried → living in urban areas or LTC facilities
3) Physical illness, chronic illness, disability, and chronic pain
4) Decreased social support
5) Low SES
6) Experience significant loss (especially if older adult's identity was
connected to that deceased person) → eg. GG always married to
granddad, has to redefine her whole personhood
7) Overwhelmed by stress
8) Older adults with dementia (increased risk)
Individual Risk Factors for Depression Correct Answer-1) Stress
2) Early trauma
3) Neglect
, 4) Abuse
5) Family history
6) Co-morbid medical and psychiatric disorders
7) Personality disorders
8) Substance dependence
Depression Correct Answer-1) Clinical syndrome
2) Rate of depression INCREASES with age
3) Often misdiagnosed, undetected, untreated, and unreported
Signs of Depression for the Nurse to be Aware of Correct Answer-1)
Older adult who says that they are "too tired to do anything with my
kids"
2) Continuously withdrawing from activities
3) Chronic multiple complaints (for which there are no underlying
pathophysiology)
Medical Conditions that Increase the Risk for Depression Correct
Answer-NB. Many of these conditions result in a loss of physical
function and loss of independence
1) Hypothyroidism
2) Multiple sclerosis
3) HTN
4) Arthritis
