nursing
Section 13. Psychosocial Problems
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The effectiveness of benzodiazepines in treating anxiety disorders suggests that which of the
following neurotransmitters plays a role in anxiety?
A. Acetylcholine
B. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
C. Dopamine
D. Serotonin
ANS: B PTS: 1
2. The criteria for diagnosing generalized anxiety disorder in the American Psychiatric
Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (text revision)
state that excessive worry or apprehension must be present more days than not for at least:
A. 1 month
B. 3 months
C. 6 months
D. 12 months
ANS: C PTS: 1
3. A patient presents to the clinician after experiencing four episodes in the last month of sweating,
palpitations, chest pain, nausea, and shaking. Each episode lasted about 10 minutes. The patient
is now becoming very fearful of future events and has been reluctant to leave the house. The
clinician suspects panic disorder but wants to rule out any possible medical causes. Which of the
following medical conditions can mimic the symptoms of a panic attack?
A. Pheochromocytoma
B. Hyperthyroidism
C. Cardiac arrhythmias
D. All of the above
ANS: D PTS: 1
4. Which of the following is considered first-line treatment for panic disorders?
A. Benzodiazepines
B. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
C. Tricyclic antidepressants
D. Cognitive behavioral therapy
ANS: D PTS: 1
5. Which of the following symptoms is NOT part of the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD)?
A. Hypersomnolence
, B. Blunted feelings
C. Loss of interest in significant activities
D. Intrusive recurrent recollections of the event
ANS: A PTS: 1
6. Which of the following neuroendocrine abnormalities is implicated in depression?
A. Decrease in adrenal size
B. Hypersecretion of cortisol
C. An exaggerated response of thyrotropin (TRH) to infusion of thyroid-releasing
hormone
D. Increased inhibitory response of glucocorticoids to dexamethasone
ANS: B PTS: 1
7. The clinician has chosen to prescribe an SSRI instead of a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) for a
patient fitting the diagnostic criteria for depression. Which of the following is NOT true
concerning SSRIs in comparison to tricyclic antidepressants?
A. SSRIs are more effective than TCAs.
B. SSRIs take less time to work than TCAs.
C. SSRIs have a more favorable side-effect profile than TCAs.
D. SSRIs are not lethal in overdose.
ANS: A PTS: 1
8. After discontinuing fluoxetine, how long must a person wait before starting a monoamine
oxidase inhibitor?
A. 2 weeks
B. 3 weeks
C. 4 weeks
D. 5 weeks
ANS: D PTS: 1
9. It is important to educate patients with depression and their family members about reporting
signs of increasing depression and suicidal thoughts. This is especially true during which time
period?
A. Prior to the antidepressant reaching therapeutic levels
B. As the mood lifts in response to antidepressant treatment
C. During dosage or medication adjustments
D. After the patient reveals suicidal thoughts or plans
ANS: B PTS: 1
10. A patient is experiencing extrapyramidal side effects from his antipsychotic medications. The
clinician would most likely take which of the following approaches to treating these side effects?
A. Give the patient a “drug holiday” until the symptoms resolve and then restart the
medication.
B. Switch the patient to a different antipsychotic.
, C. Treat the patient with anticholinergics.
D. Treat the patient with anticonvulsants.
ANS: C PTS: 1
11. According to Kübler-Ross, the stages of grief occur in which order?
A. Anger, denial, depression, bargaining, acceptance
B. Anger, denial, bargaining, acceptance, depression
C. Denial, anger, depression, bargaining, acceptance
D. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance
ANS: D PTS: 1
12. The clinician is educating a patient about the effects of marijuana. The patient stated that she has
been smoking for years and believes the use does not interfere with her life. What is the potential
long-term sequelae of marijuana use that the clinician should educate this patient about?
A. Memory impairment
B. Sexual dysfunction
C. Dry mouth
D. There are no long-term consequences of marijuana use
ANS: A PTS: 1
13. Cocaine acts as a stimulant by blocking the reuptake of which neurotransmitter?
A. GABA
B. Acetylcholine
C. Dopamine
D. Serotonin
ANS: C PTS: 1
14. What blood alcohol level corresponds with the signs of stupor and confusion?
A. 0.05
B. 0.1
C. 0.2
D. 0.3
ANS: D PTS: 1
15. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep occurs how frequently during non-REM sleep?
A. Every 30 to 40 minutes
B. Every 60 to 80 minutes
C. Every 90 to 100 minutes
D. Every 180 to 200 minutes
ANS: C PTS: 1
16. Which of the following is a laboratory finding commonly found in patients with anorexia
nervosa?
Section 13. Psychosocial Problems
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The effectiveness of benzodiazepines in treating anxiety disorders suggests that which of the
following neurotransmitters plays a role in anxiety?
A. Acetylcholine
B. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
C. Dopamine
D. Serotonin
ANS: B PTS: 1
2. The criteria for diagnosing generalized anxiety disorder in the American Psychiatric
Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (text revision)
state that excessive worry or apprehension must be present more days than not for at least:
A. 1 month
B. 3 months
C. 6 months
D. 12 months
ANS: C PTS: 1
3. A patient presents to the clinician after experiencing four episodes in the last month of sweating,
palpitations, chest pain, nausea, and shaking. Each episode lasted about 10 minutes. The patient
is now becoming very fearful of future events and has been reluctant to leave the house. The
clinician suspects panic disorder but wants to rule out any possible medical causes. Which of the
following medical conditions can mimic the symptoms of a panic attack?
A. Pheochromocytoma
B. Hyperthyroidism
C. Cardiac arrhythmias
D. All of the above
ANS: D PTS: 1
4. Which of the following is considered first-line treatment for panic disorders?
A. Benzodiazepines
B. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
C. Tricyclic antidepressants
D. Cognitive behavioral therapy
ANS: D PTS: 1
5. Which of the following symptoms is NOT part of the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD)?
A. Hypersomnolence
, B. Blunted feelings
C. Loss of interest in significant activities
D. Intrusive recurrent recollections of the event
ANS: A PTS: 1
6. Which of the following neuroendocrine abnormalities is implicated in depression?
A. Decrease in adrenal size
B. Hypersecretion of cortisol
C. An exaggerated response of thyrotropin (TRH) to infusion of thyroid-releasing
hormone
D. Increased inhibitory response of glucocorticoids to dexamethasone
ANS: B PTS: 1
7. The clinician has chosen to prescribe an SSRI instead of a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) for a
patient fitting the diagnostic criteria for depression. Which of the following is NOT true
concerning SSRIs in comparison to tricyclic antidepressants?
A. SSRIs are more effective than TCAs.
B. SSRIs take less time to work than TCAs.
C. SSRIs have a more favorable side-effect profile than TCAs.
D. SSRIs are not lethal in overdose.
ANS: A PTS: 1
8. After discontinuing fluoxetine, how long must a person wait before starting a monoamine
oxidase inhibitor?
A. 2 weeks
B. 3 weeks
C. 4 weeks
D. 5 weeks
ANS: D PTS: 1
9. It is important to educate patients with depression and their family members about reporting
signs of increasing depression and suicidal thoughts. This is especially true during which time
period?
A. Prior to the antidepressant reaching therapeutic levels
B. As the mood lifts in response to antidepressant treatment
C. During dosage or medication adjustments
D. After the patient reveals suicidal thoughts or plans
ANS: B PTS: 1
10. A patient is experiencing extrapyramidal side effects from his antipsychotic medications. The
clinician would most likely take which of the following approaches to treating these side effects?
A. Give the patient a “drug holiday” until the symptoms resolve and then restart the
medication.
B. Switch the patient to a different antipsychotic.
, C. Treat the patient with anticholinergics.
D. Treat the patient with anticonvulsants.
ANS: C PTS: 1
11. According to Kübler-Ross, the stages of grief occur in which order?
A. Anger, denial, depression, bargaining, acceptance
B. Anger, denial, bargaining, acceptance, depression
C. Denial, anger, depression, bargaining, acceptance
D. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance
ANS: D PTS: 1
12. The clinician is educating a patient about the effects of marijuana. The patient stated that she has
been smoking for years and believes the use does not interfere with her life. What is the potential
long-term sequelae of marijuana use that the clinician should educate this patient about?
A. Memory impairment
B. Sexual dysfunction
C. Dry mouth
D. There are no long-term consequences of marijuana use
ANS: A PTS: 1
13. Cocaine acts as a stimulant by blocking the reuptake of which neurotransmitter?
A. GABA
B. Acetylcholine
C. Dopamine
D. Serotonin
ANS: C PTS: 1
14. What blood alcohol level corresponds with the signs of stupor and confusion?
A. 0.05
B. 0.1
C. 0.2
D. 0.3
ANS: D PTS: 1
15. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep occurs how frequently during non-REM sleep?
A. Every 30 to 40 minutes
B. Every 60 to 80 minutes
C. Every 90 to 100 minutes
D. Every 180 to 200 minutes
ANS: C PTS: 1
16. Which of the following is a laboratory finding commonly found in patients with anorexia
nervosa?
