Nurs 6630 final exam doneNurs 6630 final exam done
answers are perfect v1 Psychopharmacologic
Approaches to Treatment of Psychopathology Walden
University
Scenario: A 13-year-old patient with ADHD is experiencing significant weight
loss on a stimulant medication.
Question: What strategy can help manage this side effect?
Options:
1. Increase the dose of the stimulant.
2. Add a high-calorie supplement to the diet. ✅ (Selected)
3. Switch to a different stimulant medication.
4. Discontinue the stimulant and try behavioral therapy alone.
Correct Answer:
Add a high-calorie supplement to the diet.
This is the best initial strategy to manage weight loss in children taking stimulant
medication for ADHD. Appetite suppression is a common side effect of stimulants,
and nutritional support—such as adding high-calorie snacks or supplements—is
often recommended before considering changing or discontinuing medication.
Other options may be considered if weight loss continues, but they are not the
firstline approach.
You selected the correct answer. ✅
Scenario: A patient is concerned about the long-term effects of lithium on kidney
function.
pg. 1
,Question: What should the clinician explain?
Options:
1. Lithium does not affect kidney function.
2. ✅ Regular monitoring of renal function is required.
3. Lithium improves kidney function.
4. Lithium use is associated with liver toxicity.
Correct Answer:
Regular monitoring of renal function is required.
Lithium can affect kidney function over time, especially with long-term use.
Nephrotoxicity (such as reduced ability to concentrate urine or chronic kidney
disease) is a known potential adverse effect. Therefore, routine monitoring of
renal (kidney) function—including serum creatinine and BUN levels—is
essential in patients on lithium therapy.
Explanation of Incorrect Options:
• ❌ "Lithium does not affect kidney function": Incorrect — it can affect the
kidneys.
• ❌ "Lithium improves kidney function": Not true — it may impair it.
• ❌ "Lithium use is associated with liver toxicity": Also incorrect — lithium
primarily affects the kidneys, not the liver.
You should choose "Regular monitoring of renal function is required." ✅
Scenario: A 14-year-old male diagnosed with major depressive disorder is being
considered for antidepressant therapy.
Question: Which of the following is the most important consideration when
prescribing antidepressants for children and teens?
pg. 2
,Options:
1. The likelihood of developing addiction
2. ✅ The potential for increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors
3. The effectiveness of the medication within the first week
4. The cost of the medication
Correct Answer:
The potential for increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors
Explanation:
When prescribing antidepressants to children and adolescents, the most critical
concern is the increased risk of suicidal ideation and behaviors, especially
during the first few weeks of treatment. This risk has been well documented, and
the FDA requires a black box warning on all antidepressants for this population.
Explanation of Incorrect Options:
• Addiction: Antidepressants are not typically addictive.
• Effectiveness in the first week: Antidepressants generally take several
weeks to show full effect.
• Cost: While relevant, it’s not the most important safety concern in this
context.
✅ You should select: “The potential for increased suicidal thoughts and
behaviors.”
Question 5
Scenario: An elderly patient with a history of depression presents with acute
confusion and disorientation.
Question: Which condition should be ruled out first?
pg. 3
, Options:
1. Acute psychosis
2. ✅ Delirium
3. Generalized anxiety disorder
4. Schizophrenia
Correct Answer:
Delirium
Explanation:
In elderly patients, acute confusion and disorientation are hallmark signs of
delirium, which is a medical emergency and must be ruled out first. Delirium
has a sudden onset, fluctuating course, and is often caused by underlying medical
issues such as infection, medication effects, or metabolic disturbances.
Why the others are incorrect:
• Acute psychosis: Less common in elderly without a prior psychotic history
and not the first concern.
• Generalized anxiety disorder: Does not typically present with acute
confusion.
• Schizophrenia: Rarely presents for the first time in the elderly, and
confusion is not a primary symptom.
Bottom line: Delirium is the priority diagnosis to rule out in elderly patients with
acute mental status changes. ✅
Question 6
pg. 4
answers are perfect v1 Psychopharmacologic
Approaches to Treatment of Psychopathology Walden
University
Scenario: A 13-year-old patient with ADHD is experiencing significant weight
loss on a stimulant medication.
Question: What strategy can help manage this side effect?
Options:
1. Increase the dose of the stimulant.
2. Add a high-calorie supplement to the diet. ✅ (Selected)
3. Switch to a different stimulant medication.
4. Discontinue the stimulant and try behavioral therapy alone.
Correct Answer:
Add a high-calorie supplement to the diet.
This is the best initial strategy to manage weight loss in children taking stimulant
medication for ADHD. Appetite suppression is a common side effect of stimulants,
and nutritional support—such as adding high-calorie snacks or supplements—is
often recommended before considering changing or discontinuing medication.
Other options may be considered if weight loss continues, but they are not the
firstline approach.
You selected the correct answer. ✅
Scenario: A patient is concerned about the long-term effects of lithium on kidney
function.
pg. 1
,Question: What should the clinician explain?
Options:
1. Lithium does not affect kidney function.
2. ✅ Regular monitoring of renal function is required.
3. Lithium improves kidney function.
4. Lithium use is associated with liver toxicity.
Correct Answer:
Regular monitoring of renal function is required.
Lithium can affect kidney function over time, especially with long-term use.
Nephrotoxicity (such as reduced ability to concentrate urine or chronic kidney
disease) is a known potential adverse effect. Therefore, routine monitoring of
renal (kidney) function—including serum creatinine and BUN levels—is
essential in patients on lithium therapy.
Explanation of Incorrect Options:
• ❌ "Lithium does not affect kidney function": Incorrect — it can affect the
kidneys.
• ❌ "Lithium improves kidney function": Not true — it may impair it.
• ❌ "Lithium use is associated with liver toxicity": Also incorrect — lithium
primarily affects the kidneys, not the liver.
You should choose "Regular monitoring of renal function is required." ✅
Scenario: A 14-year-old male diagnosed with major depressive disorder is being
considered for antidepressant therapy.
Question: Which of the following is the most important consideration when
prescribing antidepressants for children and teens?
pg. 2
,Options:
1. The likelihood of developing addiction
2. ✅ The potential for increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors
3. The effectiveness of the medication within the first week
4. The cost of the medication
Correct Answer:
The potential for increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors
Explanation:
When prescribing antidepressants to children and adolescents, the most critical
concern is the increased risk of suicidal ideation and behaviors, especially
during the first few weeks of treatment. This risk has been well documented, and
the FDA requires a black box warning on all antidepressants for this population.
Explanation of Incorrect Options:
• Addiction: Antidepressants are not typically addictive.
• Effectiveness in the first week: Antidepressants generally take several
weeks to show full effect.
• Cost: While relevant, it’s not the most important safety concern in this
context.
✅ You should select: “The potential for increased suicidal thoughts and
behaviors.”
Question 5
Scenario: An elderly patient with a history of depression presents with acute
confusion and disorientation.
Question: Which condition should be ruled out first?
pg. 3
, Options:
1. Acute psychosis
2. ✅ Delirium
3. Generalized anxiety disorder
4. Schizophrenia
Correct Answer:
Delirium
Explanation:
In elderly patients, acute confusion and disorientation are hallmark signs of
delirium, which is a medical emergency and must be ruled out first. Delirium
has a sudden onset, fluctuating course, and is often caused by underlying medical
issues such as infection, medication effects, or metabolic disturbances.
Why the others are incorrect:
• Acute psychosis: Less common in elderly without a prior psychotic history
and not the first concern.
• Generalized anxiety disorder: Does not typically present with acute
confusion.
• Schizophrenia: Rarely presents for the first time in the elderly, and
confusion is not a primary symptom.
Bottom line: Delirium is the priority diagnosis to rule out in elderly patients with
acute mental status changes. ✅
Question 6
pg. 4
