Chapter 1
1. The nurse is assessing the factors contributing to the well-
being of a newly admitted client. Which of the following
would the nurse identify as having a positive impact onthe
individual's mental health?
A) Not needing others for companionship
B) The ability to effectively manage stress
C) A family history of mental illness
D) Striving for total self-reliance
Ans: B
Feedback:
Individual factors influencing mental health include
biologic makeup, autonomy, independence, self-esteem,
capacity for growth, vitality, ability to find meaning in life,
emotional resilience or hardiness, sense of belonging,
reality orientation, and coping or stress management
abilities. Interpersonal factors such as intimacy and a
balance of separateness and connectedness are both needed
for good mental health, and therefore ahealthy person would need others for
companionship. A family history of mental illnesscould relate to the biologic makeup
of an individual, which may have a negative impacton an individual's mental health, as
well as a negative impact on an individual's interpersonal and socialñcultural factors of
health. Total self-reliance is not possible, and a positive social/cultural factor is access
to adequate resources.
2. Which of the following statements about mental illness are true? Select all that apply.
A) Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both.
B) Mental illness is only due to social/cultural factors.
C) Social/cultural factors that relate to mental illness include excessive dependency
on or withdrawal from relationships.
D) Individuals suffering from mental illness are usually able to cope effectively with
daily life.
E) Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with
relationships and self.
Ans: A, D, E
Feedback:
Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both. Mental
illness may be related to individual, interpersonal, or social/cultural factors. Excessive
dependency on or withdrawal from relationships are interpersonal factors that relate to
mental illness. Individuals suffering from mental illness can feel overwhelmed with
daily life. Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with
relationships and self.
,3. Which of the following are true regarding mental health and mental illness?
A) Behavior that may be viewed as acceptable in one culture is always unacceptable
in other cultures.
B) It is easy to determine if a person is mentally healthy or mentally ill.
C) In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and social
wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective behavior
and coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability.
D) Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill.
Ans: C
Feedback:
What one society may view as acceptable and appropriate behavior, another society may
see that as maladaptive, and inappropriate. Mental health and mental illness are difficult
to define precisely. In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological,
and social wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective
behavior and coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability. Persons who engage
in fantasies may be mentally healthy, but the inability to distinguish reality from fantasy
is an individual factor that may contribute to mental illness.
4. A client grieving the recent loss of her husband asks if she is becoming mentally ill
because she is so sad. The nurse's best response would be,
A) ìYou may have a temporary mental illness because you are experiencing so much
pain.î
B) ìYou are not mentally ill. This is an expected reaction to the loss you have
experienced.î
C) ìWere you generally dissatisfied with your relationship before your husband's
death?î
D) ìTry not to worry about that right now. You never know what the future brings.î
Ans: B
Feedback:
Mental illness includes general dissatisfaction with self, ineffective relationships,
ineffective coping, and lack of personal growth. Additionally the behavior must not be
culturally expected. Acute grief reactions are expected and therefore not considered
mental illness. False reassurance or overanalysis does not accurately address the client's
concerns.
,5. The nurse consults the DSM for which of the following purposes?
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A) To devise a plan of care for a newly admitted client
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B) To predict the client's prognosis of treatment outcomes
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C) To document the appropriate diagnostic code in the client's medical record
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D) To serve as a guide for client assessment
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Ans: D mn
Feedback:
The DSM provides standard nomenclature, presents defining characteristics, and iden
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tifies underlying causes of mental disorders. It does not provide care plans or progno
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stic outcomes of treatment. Diagnosis of mental illness is not within the generalist R
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N's scope of practice, so documenting the code in the medical record would be inappr
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opriate.
6. Which would be a reason for a student nurse to use the DSM?
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A) Identifying the medical diagnosis mn mn mn
B) Treat clients mn
C) Evaluate treatments mn
D) Understand the reason for the admission and the nature of psychiatric illnesses.
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Ans: D mn
Feedback:
Although student nurses do not use the DSM to diagnose clients, they will find it a he
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lpful resource to understand the reason for the admission and to begin building knowl
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edge about the nature of psychiatric illnesses. Identifying the medical diagnosis, treatin
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g, and evaluating treatments are not a part of the nursing process.
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7. The legislation enacted in 1963 was largely responsible for which of the following shif
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ts in care for the mentally ill?
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A) The widespread use of community-based services
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B) The advancement in pharmacotherapies
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C) Increased access to hospitalization mn mn mn
D) Improved rights for clients in long- mn mn mn mn mn
term institutional care Ans: A
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Feedback:
The Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act of 1963 accomplished the re
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lease of individuals from long-
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term stays in state institutions, the decrease in admissions to hospitals, and the devel
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opment of community-based services as an alternative to hospital care.
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, 8. Which one of the following is a result of federal legislation?
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A) Making it easier to commit people for mental health treatment against their will.
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B) Making it more difficult to commit people for mental health treatment again
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st their will. mn mn
C) State mental institutions being the primary source of care for mentally ill persons.
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D) Improved care for mentally ill persons mn mn mn mn mn
. Ans: B
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Feedback:
Commitment laws changed in the early 1970s, making it more difficult to commit pe
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ople for mental health treatment against their will. Deinstitutionalization accomplishe
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d the release of individuals from long-
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term stays in state institutions. Deinstitutionalization also had negative effects in that
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nsome mentally ill persons are subjected to the revolving door effect, which may limit
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care for mentally ill persons.
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9. The goal of the 1963 Community Mental Health Centers Act was to
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A) ensure patients' rights for the mentally ill. mn mn mn mn mn mn
B) deinstitutionalize state hospitals. mn mn
C) provide funds to build hospitals with psychiatric units. mn mn mn mn mn mn mn
D) treat people with mental illness in a humane fashion
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. Ans: B
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Feedback:
The 1963 Community Mental Health Centers Act intimated the movement toward tre
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ating those with mental illness in a less restrictive environment. This legislation resul
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ted in the shift of clients with mental illness from large state institutions to care based
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in the community. Answer choices A, C, and D were not purposes of the 1963 Comm
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unity Mental Health Centers Act.
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10. The creation of asylums during the 1800s was meant to
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A) improve treatment of mental disorders. mn mn mn mn
B) provide food and shelter for the mentally ill. mn mn mn mn mn mn mn
C) punish people with mental illness who were believed to be possessed.
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D) remove dangerous people with mental illness from the community mn mn mn mn mn mn mn mn
. Ans: B
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Feedback:
The asylum was meant to be a safe haven with food, shelter, and humane treatment for
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nthe mentally ill. Asylums were not used to improve treatment of mental disorders or to
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mnpunish mentally ill people who were believed to be possessed. The asylum was not cr
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eated to remove the dangerously mentally ill from the community.
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