NURS 497 MIDTERM 2 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2026
Obsessions for OCD - ANS - recurrent and persistent and cause marked anxiety or distress
- they will attempt to ignore, suppress, or neutralize the thoughts/urges with some other
thought or action
compulsions for OCD - ANS - repetitive behaviours or mental acts that they feel driven to
perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly
- aimed at preventing or reducing anxiety or distress, or preventing some dreaded even or
situation
- not connected in a realistic way
genetic factor of OCD - ANS increased prevalence if relatives also have tourette's syndrome or
a mood disorder
neuropathological factor of OCD - ANS hyperactivity of orbitofrontal cortex, anterior
cingulated cortex, and caudate nucleus; increased cerebral glucose metabolism
orbitofrontal cortec - ANS has the most dopamine receptors
anterior cingulated cortex - ANS part of the limbic system
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
,caudate nucleus - ANS part of basal ganglia where GABA mediates dopamine
dopmaine - ANS neurotransmitter that impacts our arousal and mood states, thought
processes, and physical movement
biochemical factors of OCD - ANS serotonin strongly linked to OCD, based on effectiveness of
SSRIs
serotonin - ANS - initiates the fight or flight response
- influences how emotions are prioritized in the amygdala
- influences hoe meaning is connected to memories in the pre-frontal cortex
psychodynamic factors of OCD - ANS arises from unconscious defense mechanisms such as
isolation, undoing, and reaction formation
isolation - ANS separation of affect from thoughts and impulse
undoing - ANS performing a behavior to avoid the consequences of another behavior
reaction formation - ANS a behavior or attitude that opposes another behavior or attitude
behavioral factor of OCD - ANS conditioned stimuli; behaviors that would typically be
considered neutral, provoke anxiety; to manage anxiety individuals begin to perform other
behaviors; the more a behavior decreases anxiety the more frequently an individual will engage
in the behavior
behaviors of OCD to assess for in dermatological assessment - ANS - repetitive hand washing
- excessive cleaning (skin breakdown also due to cleaning agents)
- skin picking
- pulling out hair (trichotillomania possibility)
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
, interoceptive awareness - ANS the sensory response to emotional and visceral cues such as
hunger
purge - ANS purposeful evacuation of stomach or bowel contents through artificial means
such as vomiting or laxatives
anorexia nervosa - ANS - restriction or energy intake relative to requirements, leading to a
significantly low body weight
- intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat and may take actions to prevent this fear from
happening
- disturbance in way one's body looks or body weight
biological factors of anorexia - ANS - changes in orbitofrontal cortex and striatum - decreased
dopamine possible - may decrease the pleasure an individual experiences with eating
- increase in endogenous opioids - patients exercise excessively
- decreased thyroid function - malnutrition and chronic stress
- decreased serotonergic functioning - low weight
general appearance of anorexia - ANS dry skin, sunken facial features, may have difficulties
with balance
general appearance of bulimia - ANS may look overweight but may also appear appropriate
weight or underweight
affect & mood for anorexia - ANS blunted affect
thought content of anorexia - ANS often hopelessness and helplessness are present
thought content of bulimia - ANS may perseverate on weight, size, shape or their body
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 3
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2026
Obsessions for OCD - ANS - recurrent and persistent and cause marked anxiety or distress
- they will attempt to ignore, suppress, or neutralize the thoughts/urges with some other
thought or action
compulsions for OCD - ANS - repetitive behaviours or mental acts that they feel driven to
perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly
- aimed at preventing or reducing anxiety or distress, or preventing some dreaded even or
situation
- not connected in a realistic way
genetic factor of OCD - ANS increased prevalence if relatives also have tourette's syndrome or
a mood disorder
neuropathological factor of OCD - ANS hyperactivity of orbitofrontal cortex, anterior
cingulated cortex, and caudate nucleus; increased cerebral glucose metabolism
orbitofrontal cortec - ANS has the most dopamine receptors
anterior cingulated cortex - ANS part of the limbic system
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
,caudate nucleus - ANS part of basal ganglia where GABA mediates dopamine
dopmaine - ANS neurotransmitter that impacts our arousal and mood states, thought
processes, and physical movement
biochemical factors of OCD - ANS serotonin strongly linked to OCD, based on effectiveness of
SSRIs
serotonin - ANS - initiates the fight or flight response
- influences how emotions are prioritized in the amygdala
- influences hoe meaning is connected to memories in the pre-frontal cortex
psychodynamic factors of OCD - ANS arises from unconscious defense mechanisms such as
isolation, undoing, and reaction formation
isolation - ANS separation of affect from thoughts and impulse
undoing - ANS performing a behavior to avoid the consequences of another behavior
reaction formation - ANS a behavior or attitude that opposes another behavior or attitude
behavioral factor of OCD - ANS conditioned stimuli; behaviors that would typically be
considered neutral, provoke anxiety; to manage anxiety individuals begin to perform other
behaviors; the more a behavior decreases anxiety the more frequently an individual will engage
in the behavior
behaviors of OCD to assess for in dermatological assessment - ANS - repetitive hand washing
- excessive cleaning (skin breakdown also due to cleaning agents)
- skin picking
- pulling out hair (trichotillomania possibility)
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
, interoceptive awareness - ANS the sensory response to emotional and visceral cues such as
hunger
purge - ANS purposeful evacuation of stomach or bowel contents through artificial means
such as vomiting or laxatives
anorexia nervosa - ANS - restriction or energy intake relative to requirements, leading to a
significantly low body weight
- intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat and may take actions to prevent this fear from
happening
- disturbance in way one's body looks or body weight
biological factors of anorexia - ANS - changes in orbitofrontal cortex and striatum - decreased
dopamine possible - may decrease the pleasure an individual experiences with eating
- increase in endogenous opioids - patients exercise excessively
- decreased thyroid function - malnutrition and chronic stress
- decreased serotonergic functioning - low weight
general appearance of anorexia - ANS dry skin, sunken facial features, may have difficulties
with balance
general appearance of bulimia - ANS may look overweight but may also appear appropriate
weight or underweight
affect & mood for anorexia - ANS blunted affect
thought content of anorexia - ANS often hopelessness and helplessness are present
thought content of bulimia - ANS may perseverate on weight, size, shape or their body
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 3
