C HAPTER 15: A NXIETY AND O BSESSIVE -
C OMPULSIVE D ISORDERS
Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric -Mental Health Nursing: 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient experiences a sudden episode of severe anxiet y. Of t hese
medications in the patients medical record, which is most appropriate to
give as a prn anxiol ytic?
a. buspirone (BuSpar)
b. lorazepam (Ativan)
c. amitript yline (Elavil)
d. desipramine (Norpramin)
ANS: B
Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiet y. I t may be given
as a prn medication. Buspirone is long acting and is not useful as a prn
drug. Amitript yline and desipramine are tricyclic antidepressants and
considered second- or third-line agents.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 285 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity
2. Two staff nurses applied for promotion to nurse manager. The nurse not
promoted initiall y had feelings of loss but then became supportive of the
, new manager by helping m ake the transition smooth and encouraging
others. Which term best describes the nurses response?
a. Altruism
b. Suppression
c. Intellectualization
d. Reaction formation
ANS: A
Altruism is the mechanism by which an individual deals with emotional
conflict by meeting the needs of others and receiving gratification
vicariousl y or from the responses of others. The nurses reaction is
conscious rather than unconscious. There is no evidence of
suppression. Intellectualization is a process in which events are
anal yzed based on remote, cold facts and without passion, rather than
incorporating feeling and emotion into the processing. Reaction
formation is when unacceptable feelings or behaviors are controlled
and kept out of awareness by developing the opposite behavior or
emotion.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: 273 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
3. A person who feels unattractive repeatedly says, Although Im not
beautiful, I am smart. This is an ex ample of:
a. repression.
b. devaluation.
c. identification.
d. compensation.
, ANS: D
Compensation is an unconscious process that allows us to make up for
deficits in one area by excelling in another area to raise self -esteem.
Repression unconsciousl y puts an idea , event, or feeling out of
awareness. Identification is an unconscious mechanism calling for
imitation of mannerisms or behaviors of another. Devaluation occurs
when the individual attributes negative qualities to self or others.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Leve l: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: 273 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
4. A person speaking about a rival for a significant others affection says in
an emotional, syrupy voice, What a lovely person. Thats someone I simpl y
adore. The individual is demonstrating:
a. reaction formation.
b. repression.
c. projection.
d. denial.
ANS: A
Reaction formation is an unconscious mechanism that keeps
unacceptable feelings out of awareness by using the opposite behavior.
Instead of expressing hatred for the other person, the individual gives
praise. Denial operates unconsciousl y to allow an anxiet y -producing
idea, feeling, or situation to be ignored. Projection involves
unconsciousl y disowning an unacceptable idea, feeling, or behavior by
C OMPULSIVE D ISORDERS
Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric -Mental Health Nursing: 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient experiences a sudden episode of severe anxiet y. Of t hese
medications in the patients medical record, which is most appropriate to
give as a prn anxiol ytic?
a. buspirone (BuSpar)
b. lorazepam (Ativan)
c. amitript yline (Elavil)
d. desipramine (Norpramin)
ANS: B
Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiet y. I t may be given
as a prn medication. Buspirone is long acting and is not useful as a prn
drug. Amitript yline and desipramine are tricyclic antidepressants and
considered second- or third-line agents.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 285 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Physiological Integrity
2. Two staff nurses applied for promotion to nurse manager. The nurse not
promoted initiall y had feelings of loss but then became supportive of the
, new manager by helping m ake the transition smooth and encouraging
others. Which term best describes the nurses response?
a. Altruism
b. Suppression
c. Intellectualization
d. Reaction formation
ANS: A
Altruism is the mechanism by which an individual deals with emotional
conflict by meeting the needs of others and receiving gratification
vicariousl y or from the responses of others. The nurses reaction is
conscious rather than unconscious. There is no evidence of
suppression. Intellectualization is a process in which events are
anal yzed based on remote, cold facts and without passion, rather than
incorporating feeling and emotion into the processing. Reaction
formation is when unacceptable feelings or behaviors are controlled
and kept out of awareness by developing the opposite behavior or
emotion.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: 273 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
3. A person who feels unattractive repeatedly says, Although Im not
beautiful, I am smart. This is an ex ample of:
a. repression.
b. devaluation.
c. identification.
d. compensation.
, ANS: D
Compensation is an unconscious process that allows us to make up for
deficits in one area by excelling in another area to raise self -esteem.
Repression unconsciousl y puts an idea , event, or feeling out of
awareness. Identification is an unconscious mechanism calling for
imitation of mannerisms or behaviors of another. Devaluation occurs
when the individual attributes negative qualities to self or others.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Leve l: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: 273 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
4. A person speaking about a rival for a significant others affection says in
an emotional, syrupy voice, What a lovely person. Thats someone I simpl y
adore. The individual is demonstrating:
a. reaction formation.
b. repression.
c. projection.
d. denial.
ANS: A
Reaction formation is an unconscious mechanism that keeps
unacceptable feelings out of awareness by using the opposite behavior.
Instead of expressing hatred for the other person, the individual gives
praise. Denial operates unconsciousl y to allow an anxiet y -producing
idea, feeling, or situation to be ignored. Projection involves
unconsciousl y disowning an unacceptable idea, feeling, or behavior by
