Unit VI Mental Health Test Bank (All
Answers) verified to pass 2025/2026
25.1. A client is diagnosed with persistent depressive (dysthymia) disorder. Which should a nurse classify
as an affective symptom of this disorder?
A. Social isolation with a focus on self
B. Low energy level
C. Difficulty concentrating
D. Gloomy and pessimistic outlook on life - correct answer ✔ANSWER: D
RATIONALE: The nurse should classify a gloomy and pessimistic outlook on life as an affective symptom
of dysthymia. Symptoms of depression can be described as alterations in four areas of human functions:
affective, behavioral, cognitive, and physiological. Affective symptoms are those that relate to the mood.
25.2. A client is diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which nursing diagnosis should a nurse
assign to this client to address a behavioral symptom of this disorder?
A. Altered communication R/T feelings of worthlessness AEB anhedonia
B. Social isolation R/T poor self-esteem AEB secluding self in room
C. Altered thought processes R/T hopelessness AEB persecutory delusions
D. Altered nutrition: less than body requirements R/T high anxiety AEB anorexia - correct answer
✔ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: A nursing diagnosis of social isolation R/T poor self-esteem AEB secluding self in room
addresses a behavioral symptom of major depressive disorder. Other behavioral symptoms include
psychomotor retardation, virtually nonexistent communication, maintaining a fetal position, and no
personal hygiene and/or grooming.
25.3. A nurse assesses a client suspected of having major depressive disorder. Which client symptom
would eliminate this diagnosis?
,A. The client is disheveled and malodorous.
B. The client refuses to interact with others.
C. The client is unable to feel any pleasure.
D. The client has maxed-out charge cards and exhibits promiscuous behaviors. - correct answer
✔ANSWER: D
RATIONALE: The nurse should assess that a client who has maxed-out credit cards and exhibits
promiscuous behavior would be exhibiting manic symptoms. According to the DSM-5, these symptoms
would rule out the diagnosis of major depressive disorder.
25.4. A nurse reviews the laboratory data of a 29-year-old client suspected of having major depressive
disorder. Which laboratory value would potentially rule out this diagnosis?
A. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level of 6.2 U/mL
B. Potassium (K+) level of 4.2 mEq/L
C. Sodium (Na+) level of 140 mEq/L
D. Calcium (Ca2+) level of 9.5 mg/dL - correct answer ✔ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: According to the DSM-5, symptoms of major depressive disorder cannot be due to the
direct physiological effects of a general medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism). The diagnosis of major
depressive disorder may be ruled out if the clients laboratory results indicate a high TSH level (normal
range for this age group is 0.4 to 4.2 U/mL), which results from a low thyroid function, or
hypothyroidism. In hypothyroidism metabolic processes are slowed, leading to depressive symptoms.
25.5. A depressed client reports to a nurse a history of divorce, job loss, family estrangement, and
cocaine abuse. According to learning theory, what is the cause of this clients symptoms?
A. Depression is a result of anger turned inward.
B. Depression is a result of abandonment.
C. Depression is a result of repeated failures.
D. Depression is a result of negative thinking. - correct answer ✔ANSWER: C
, RATIONALE: Learning theory describes a model of learned helplessness in which multiple life failures
cause the client to abandon future attempts to succeed.
25.6. What is the priority reason for a nurse to perform a full physical health assessment on a client
admitted with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder?
A. The attention during the assessment is beneficial in decreasing social isolation.
B. Depression is a symptom of several medical conditions.
C. Physical health complications are likely to arise from antidepressant therapy.
D. Depressed clients avoid addressing physical health and ignore medical problems. - correct answer
✔ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Medical conditions such as hormone disturbances, electrolyte disturbances, and nutritional
deficiencies may produce symptoms of depression. These are a priority to identify and treat, since they
may be the cause of the depressive symptoms and represent physiological needs.
25.7. A nurse is planning care for a child who is experiencing depression. Which medication is approved
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of depression in children and
adolescents?
A. Paroxetine (Paxil)
B. Sertraline (Zoloft)
C. Citalopram (Celexa)
D. Fluoxetine (Prozac) - correct answer ✔ANSWER: D
RATIONALE: Fluoxetine (Prozac) is FDA approved for the treatment of depression in children and
adolescents. Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used in the treatment of
depression. All antidepressants carry an FDA warning for increased risk of suicide in children and
adolescents.
Answers) verified to pass 2025/2026
25.1. A client is diagnosed with persistent depressive (dysthymia) disorder. Which should a nurse classify
as an affective symptom of this disorder?
A. Social isolation with a focus on self
B. Low energy level
C. Difficulty concentrating
D. Gloomy and pessimistic outlook on life - correct answer ✔ANSWER: D
RATIONALE: The nurse should classify a gloomy and pessimistic outlook on life as an affective symptom
of dysthymia. Symptoms of depression can be described as alterations in four areas of human functions:
affective, behavioral, cognitive, and physiological. Affective symptoms are those that relate to the mood.
25.2. A client is diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which nursing diagnosis should a nurse
assign to this client to address a behavioral symptom of this disorder?
A. Altered communication R/T feelings of worthlessness AEB anhedonia
B. Social isolation R/T poor self-esteem AEB secluding self in room
C. Altered thought processes R/T hopelessness AEB persecutory delusions
D. Altered nutrition: less than body requirements R/T high anxiety AEB anorexia - correct answer
✔ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: A nursing diagnosis of social isolation R/T poor self-esteem AEB secluding self in room
addresses a behavioral symptom of major depressive disorder. Other behavioral symptoms include
psychomotor retardation, virtually nonexistent communication, maintaining a fetal position, and no
personal hygiene and/or grooming.
25.3. A nurse assesses a client suspected of having major depressive disorder. Which client symptom
would eliminate this diagnosis?
,A. The client is disheveled and malodorous.
B. The client refuses to interact with others.
C. The client is unable to feel any pleasure.
D. The client has maxed-out charge cards and exhibits promiscuous behaviors. - correct answer
✔ANSWER: D
RATIONALE: The nurse should assess that a client who has maxed-out credit cards and exhibits
promiscuous behavior would be exhibiting manic symptoms. According to the DSM-5, these symptoms
would rule out the diagnosis of major depressive disorder.
25.4. A nurse reviews the laboratory data of a 29-year-old client suspected of having major depressive
disorder. Which laboratory value would potentially rule out this diagnosis?
A. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level of 6.2 U/mL
B. Potassium (K+) level of 4.2 mEq/L
C. Sodium (Na+) level of 140 mEq/L
D. Calcium (Ca2+) level of 9.5 mg/dL - correct answer ✔ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: According to the DSM-5, symptoms of major depressive disorder cannot be due to the
direct physiological effects of a general medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism). The diagnosis of major
depressive disorder may be ruled out if the clients laboratory results indicate a high TSH level (normal
range for this age group is 0.4 to 4.2 U/mL), which results from a low thyroid function, or
hypothyroidism. In hypothyroidism metabolic processes are slowed, leading to depressive symptoms.
25.5. A depressed client reports to a nurse a history of divorce, job loss, family estrangement, and
cocaine abuse. According to learning theory, what is the cause of this clients symptoms?
A. Depression is a result of anger turned inward.
B. Depression is a result of abandonment.
C. Depression is a result of repeated failures.
D. Depression is a result of negative thinking. - correct answer ✔ANSWER: C
, RATIONALE: Learning theory describes a model of learned helplessness in which multiple life failures
cause the client to abandon future attempts to succeed.
25.6. What is the priority reason for a nurse to perform a full physical health assessment on a client
admitted with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder?
A. The attention during the assessment is beneficial in decreasing social isolation.
B. Depression is a symptom of several medical conditions.
C. Physical health complications are likely to arise from antidepressant therapy.
D. Depressed clients avoid addressing physical health and ignore medical problems. - correct answer
✔ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Medical conditions such as hormone disturbances, electrolyte disturbances, and nutritional
deficiencies may produce symptoms of depression. These are a priority to identify and treat, since they
may be the cause of the depressive symptoms and represent physiological needs.
25.7. A nurse is planning care for a child who is experiencing depression. Which medication is approved
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of depression in children and
adolescents?
A. Paroxetine (Paxil)
B. Sertraline (Zoloft)
C. Citalopram (Celexa)
D. Fluoxetine (Prozac) - correct answer ✔ANSWER: D
RATIONALE: Fluoxetine (Prozac) is FDA approved for the treatment of depression in children and
adolescents. Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used in the treatment of
depression. All antidepressants carry an FDA warning for increased risk of suicide in children and
adolescents.
