NURS 420 Exam 3 Study Guide UPDATED
ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What is Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)? - CORRECT ANSWER -Exposure to traumatic events
causes anxiety, detachment and other manifestations for at least 3 days but not longer than 1 month
following the event
What is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? - CORRECT ANSWER -Exposure to traumatic
events causes anxiety, detachment, and other manifestations about the event for longer than 1 month
following the event. Manifestations can last for years.
What is Adjustment Disorder? - CORRECT ANSWER -A stressor triggers a reaction causing
changes in mood and/or dysfunction in performing usual activities. The stressor and effects are less severe
than with ASD or PTSD.
What are some types of dissociative disorders? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Depersonalization/derealization disorder
Dissociative amnesia
Dissociative fugue
Dissociative identity disorder
What is depersonalization/derealization disorder? - CORRECT ANSWER -This disorder is
characterized by a temporary change in awareness displaying depersonalization, derealization, or both,
often in response to stress
What is depersonalization? - CORRECT ANSWER -Depersonalization is the feeling that a person
is observing one's own personality or body from a distance
What is derealization? - CORRECT ANSWER -Derealization is the feeling that outside events are
unreal or part of a dream, or that objects appear larger or smaller than they should
,What is dissociative amnesia? - CORRECT ANSWER -Inability to recall personal information
related to traumatic or stressful events. The amnesia can be of events of a certain period of time or just
certain details
What is dissociative fugue? - CORRECT ANSWER -A type of dissociative amnesia in which the
client travels to a new area and is unable to remember one's own identity and at least some of one's past.
Can last weeks to months and usually follows a traumatic event
What is dissociative identity disorder? - CORRECT ANSWER -Client displays more than one
distinct personality, with a stressful event precipitating the change from one personality to another
How can PTSD be prevented? - CORRECT ANSWER -- During the incident, be aware of need for
breaks, rest, adequate water, and nutrition
- Provide emotional support for those involved in the incident
- Encourage staff to support each other
- Debrief with others following the incident
- Encourage expression of feelings by all involved
- Use offered counseling resources
What are some risk factors for ASD, PTSD, and adjustment disorder? - CORRECT ANSWER --
Exposure to a traumatic event or experience (motor vehicle crash, sexual assault, physical abuse). For
adjustment disorder, the event or experience can be less severe (breakup of a relationship or loss of
employment)
- Exposure to trauma experienced during a natural disaster (fire, storm), or a man-made experience
(terrorism)
- Exposure or repeated re-exposure to trauma in an occupational setting (experienced by medical
personnel or law enforcement officers) can precipitate a trauma- and stressor-related disorder
- Living through a traumatic event experienced by a family member or close friend (an airplane crash or
homicide)
What is PTSD a risk factor for? - CORRECT ANSWER -PTSD is a risk factor for other disorders,
including dissociative disorders, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders
,What are some risk factors for ASD and PTSD? - CORRECT ANSWER -- Severity of the trauma
(duration of the experience, the amount of personal threat associated with the trauma and whether it
occurs far from home or in familiar surroundings)
- Individual vulnerabilities (past coping mechanisms, personality, and preexisting mental disorders)
- Insufficient treatment following the trauma (client social supports, societal attitudes about the situation,
and cultural influences)
What are some risk factors for adjustment disorder? - CORRECT ANSWER -- Pattern of life-long
difficulty accepting change
- Learned pattern of difficulty with social skills or coping strategies which, when a stressor occurs, can
trigger a stress response out of proportion to the stressor
What are some risk factors for dissociative disorders? - CORRECT ANSWER -- Traumatic life
event
- Childhood abuse or trauma
What are some expected findings with ASD and PTSD? - CORRECT ANSWER -- Intrusive
findings (presence of memories, flashbacks, dreams about the traumatic event)
- Memories of the event recur involuntarily and are distressing to the client
- Flashbacks (dissociative reactions where the client feels the traumatic event is recurring in the present),
such as a military veteran feeling that they are reliving a combat situation after hearing a harmless loud
noise
- Night-time dreams related to the traumatic event
- Avoidance of people, places, events, or situations that bring back reminders of the traumatic event
- Trying to avoid thinking of the event
What are some mood and cognitive alterations with ASD and PTSD? - CORRECT ANSWER --
Anxiety and depressive disorders
- Anger, irritability frequently present
- Decreased interest in current activities
- Guilt, negative self-beliefs, and cognitive distortions, such as, "I am responsible for everything bad that
happens"
- Detachment from others, including friends and family members
, - Inability to experience positive emotional experiences, such as love and tenderness
- Dissociative manifestations (amnesia, derealization, depersonalization)
What are some behavioral manifestations of ASD and PTSD? - CORRECT ANSWER --
Aggression, irritability, and angry responses toward others
- Hyper-vigilance and heightened startle responses
- Inability to focus and concentrate on work or other activities
- Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia
- Destructive behavior, such as suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming others
What are some expected findings with adjustment disorders? - CORRECT ANSWER -Depression
Anxiety
Changes in behavior (arguing with others or driving erratically)
What are some expected findings with depersonalization/derealization disorder? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Reports of feeling detached from one's own body or of feeling that one's personal
environment is unreal
What are some expected findings with dissociative anemia? - CORRECT ANSWER -Lack of
memory that can range from name or date of birth to the client's entire lifetime
What are some expected findings with dissociative identity disorder? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Client displays two or more separate personalities. Each personality can be very distinct and different
from the other
What are some diagnostic procedures for ASD, PTSD, and adjustment disorders? - CORRECT
ANSWER -- Screening tools (the primary care PTSD screen and PTSD checklist)
- Screening tests for anxiety and depression
- Asking about suicidal ideation
- Mental status examination
ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT
Answers
What is Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)? - CORRECT ANSWER -Exposure to traumatic events
causes anxiety, detachment and other manifestations for at least 3 days but not longer than 1 month
following the event
What is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? - CORRECT ANSWER -Exposure to traumatic
events causes anxiety, detachment, and other manifestations about the event for longer than 1 month
following the event. Manifestations can last for years.
What is Adjustment Disorder? - CORRECT ANSWER -A stressor triggers a reaction causing
changes in mood and/or dysfunction in performing usual activities. The stressor and effects are less severe
than with ASD or PTSD.
What are some types of dissociative disorders? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Depersonalization/derealization disorder
Dissociative amnesia
Dissociative fugue
Dissociative identity disorder
What is depersonalization/derealization disorder? - CORRECT ANSWER -This disorder is
characterized by a temporary change in awareness displaying depersonalization, derealization, or both,
often in response to stress
What is depersonalization? - CORRECT ANSWER -Depersonalization is the feeling that a person
is observing one's own personality or body from a distance
What is derealization? - CORRECT ANSWER -Derealization is the feeling that outside events are
unreal or part of a dream, or that objects appear larger or smaller than they should
,What is dissociative amnesia? - CORRECT ANSWER -Inability to recall personal information
related to traumatic or stressful events. The amnesia can be of events of a certain period of time or just
certain details
What is dissociative fugue? - CORRECT ANSWER -A type of dissociative amnesia in which the
client travels to a new area and is unable to remember one's own identity and at least some of one's past.
Can last weeks to months and usually follows a traumatic event
What is dissociative identity disorder? - CORRECT ANSWER -Client displays more than one
distinct personality, with a stressful event precipitating the change from one personality to another
How can PTSD be prevented? - CORRECT ANSWER -- During the incident, be aware of need for
breaks, rest, adequate water, and nutrition
- Provide emotional support for those involved in the incident
- Encourage staff to support each other
- Debrief with others following the incident
- Encourage expression of feelings by all involved
- Use offered counseling resources
What are some risk factors for ASD, PTSD, and adjustment disorder? - CORRECT ANSWER --
Exposure to a traumatic event or experience (motor vehicle crash, sexual assault, physical abuse). For
adjustment disorder, the event or experience can be less severe (breakup of a relationship or loss of
employment)
- Exposure to trauma experienced during a natural disaster (fire, storm), or a man-made experience
(terrorism)
- Exposure or repeated re-exposure to trauma in an occupational setting (experienced by medical
personnel or law enforcement officers) can precipitate a trauma- and stressor-related disorder
- Living through a traumatic event experienced by a family member or close friend (an airplane crash or
homicide)
What is PTSD a risk factor for? - CORRECT ANSWER -PTSD is a risk factor for other disorders,
including dissociative disorders, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders
,What are some risk factors for ASD and PTSD? - CORRECT ANSWER -- Severity of the trauma
(duration of the experience, the amount of personal threat associated with the trauma and whether it
occurs far from home or in familiar surroundings)
- Individual vulnerabilities (past coping mechanisms, personality, and preexisting mental disorders)
- Insufficient treatment following the trauma (client social supports, societal attitudes about the situation,
and cultural influences)
What are some risk factors for adjustment disorder? - CORRECT ANSWER -- Pattern of life-long
difficulty accepting change
- Learned pattern of difficulty with social skills or coping strategies which, when a stressor occurs, can
trigger a stress response out of proportion to the stressor
What are some risk factors for dissociative disorders? - CORRECT ANSWER -- Traumatic life
event
- Childhood abuse or trauma
What are some expected findings with ASD and PTSD? - CORRECT ANSWER -- Intrusive
findings (presence of memories, flashbacks, dreams about the traumatic event)
- Memories of the event recur involuntarily and are distressing to the client
- Flashbacks (dissociative reactions where the client feels the traumatic event is recurring in the present),
such as a military veteran feeling that they are reliving a combat situation after hearing a harmless loud
noise
- Night-time dreams related to the traumatic event
- Avoidance of people, places, events, or situations that bring back reminders of the traumatic event
- Trying to avoid thinking of the event
What are some mood and cognitive alterations with ASD and PTSD? - CORRECT ANSWER --
Anxiety and depressive disorders
- Anger, irritability frequently present
- Decreased interest in current activities
- Guilt, negative self-beliefs, and cognitive distortions, such as, "I am responsible for everything bad that
happens"
- Detachment from others, including friends and family members
, - Inability to experience positive emotional experiences, such as love and tenderness
- Dissociative manifestations (amnesia, derealization, depersonalization)
What are some behavioral manifestations of ASD and PTSD? - CORRECT ANSWER --
Aggression, irritability, and angry responses toward others
- Hyper-vigilance and heightened startle responses
- Inability to focus and concentrate on work or other activities
- Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia
- Destructive behavior, such as suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming others
What are some expected findings with adjustment disorders? - CORRECT ANSWER -Depression
Anxiety
Changes in behavior (arguing with others or driving erratically)
What are some expected findings with depersonalization/derealization disorder? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Reports of feeling detached from one's own body or of feeling that one's personal
environment is unreal
What are some expected findings with dissociative anemia? - CORRECT ANSWER -Lack of
memory that can range from name or date of birth to the client's entire lifetime
What are some expected findings with dissociative identity disorder? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Client displays two or more separate personalities. Each personality can be very distinct and different
from the other
What are some diagnostic procedures for ASD, PTSD, and adjustment disorders? - CORRECT
ANSWER -- Screening tools (the primary care PTSD screen and PTSD checklist)
- Screening tests for anxiety and depression
- Asking about suicidal ideation
- Mental status examination
