MH Exam 3 Practice Questions Anxiety,
OCD and Related Disorders
A nursing instructor is teaching about specific phobias. Which student statement indicates to the instructor
that learning has occurred?
a. "These clients recognize their fear as excessive and frequently seek treatment."
b. "These clients have a panic level of fear that is overwhelming and unreasonable."
c. "These clients experience symptoms that mirror a stroke."
d. "These clients always experience tachycardia, dysphagia, and diaphoresis." Answer- Answer: b
Which treatment should a nurse identify as most appropriate for clients diagnosed with generalized anxiety
disorder (GAD)?
a. Long-term treatment with diazepam (Valium).
b. Acute symptom control with citalopram (Celexa).
c. Long-term treatment with buspirone (BuSpar).
d. Acute symptom control with ziprasidone (Geodon). Answer- Answer: c
Rationale: GAD is enduring, and doesn't just go away; long-term treatment instead of acute therapy. Long term
treatment with valium is contraindicated because it's addictive and has multiple CNS effects. BuSpar is non-
addictive, and it's given as a routine medication long-term (never as a PRN). Celexa is not for acute treatment,
it's a long term SSRI that may take up to 3 months to work. Geodon is an atypical antipsychotic.
A cab driver, stuck in traffic, becomes lightheaded, tremulous, diaphoretic, tachycardic, and dyspneic. A work-
up in the emergency department reveals no pathology. Which medical diagnosis should the nurse suspect, and
which nursing diagnosis should be the nurse's first priority?
a. Generalized anxiety disorder and a nursing diagnosis of fear.
b. Disturbed sensory perception and a nursing diagnosis of panic disorder.
c. Pain disorder and a nursing diagnosis of altered role performance.
, d. Panic disorder and a nursing diagnosis of anxiety. Answer- Answer: d
Rationale: When someone experiences a panic attack, it's typically unexpected. Lightheadedness, diaphoresis
etc are symptoms of anxiety.
A client diagnosed with panic disorder states, "When an attack happens, I feel like I am going to die." Which is
the most appropriate nursing response?
a. "I know it's frightening, but try to remind yourself that this will only last a short time."
b. "Death from a panic attack happens so infrequently that there is no need to worry."
c. "Most people who experience panic attacks have feelings of impending doom."
d. "Tell me why you think you are going to die every time you have a panic attack." Answer- Answer: a
Rationale: Panic attacks range from 1 - 10 minutes. Don't say "tell me why" because cognition is impaired
during an attack.
A nursing instructor is teaching about the medications used to treat panic disorder. Which student statement
indicates that learning has occurred?
a. "Clonazepam (Klonopin) can be used, as needed, in the treatment of panic disorder."
b. "Clozapine (Clozaril) is used off-label in long-term treatment of panic disorder."
c. "Doxepin (Sinequan) can be used in low doses to relieve symptoms."
d. "Buspirone (BuSpar) is used for immediate effect to lower anxiety." Answer- Answer: a
Rationale: Klonopin is a benzodiazepine that is prescribed intermittently until they get someone at a
therapeutic level of an SSRI or Buspar. Don't use clozaril which is an antipsychotic, and Sinequan is an
antidepressant. Buspar wouldn't go into effect immediately, so that choice is wrong.
A family member is seeking advice about an older parent who seems to worry unnecessarily about everything.
The family member states, "Should I seek psychiatric help for my mother?" Which is the best nursing response?
a. "My mother also worries unnecessarily. I think it is part of the aging process."
b. "Anxiety is considered abnormal when it is out of proportion to the stimulus causing it and when it impairs
functioning."
c. "From what you have told me, you should get her to a psychiatrist as soon as possible."
d. "Anxiety is a complex phenomenon and is effectively treated only with psychiatric medications." Answer-
OCD and Related Disorders
A nursing instructor is teaching about specific phobias. Which student statement indicates to the instructor
that learning has occurred?
a. "These clients recognize their fear as excessive and frequently seek treatment."
b. "These clients have a panic level of fear that is overwhelming and unreasonable."
c. "These clients experience symptoms that mirror a stroke."
d. "These clients always experience tachycardia, dysphagia, and diaphoresis." Answer- Answer: b
Which treatment should a nurse identify as most appropriate for clients diagnosed with generalized anxiety
disorder (GAD)?
a. Long-term treatment with diazepam (Valium).
b. Acute symptom control with citalopram (Celexa).
c. Long-term treatment with buspirone (BuSpar).
d. Acute symptom control with ziprasidone (Geodon). Answer- Answer: c
Rationale: GAD is enduring, and doesn't just go away; long-term treatment instead of acute therapy. Long term
treatment with valium is contraindicated because it's addictive and has multiple CNS effects. BuSpar is non-
addictive, and it's given as a routine medication long-term (never as a PRN). Celexa is not for acute treatment,
it's a long term SSRI that may take up to 3 months to work. Geodon is an atypical antipsychotic.
A cab driver, stuck in traffic, becomes lightheaded, tremulous, diaphoretic, tachycardic, and dyspneic. A work-
up in the emergency department reveals no pathology. Which medical diagnosis should the nurse suspect, and
which nursing diagnosis should be the nurse's first priority?
a. Generalized anxiety disorder and a nursing diagnosis of fear.
b. Disturbed sensory perception and a nursing diagnosis of panic disorder.
c. Pain disorder and a nursing diagnosis of altered role performance.
, d. Panic disorder and a nursing diagnosis of anxiety. Answer- Answer: d
Rationale: When someone experiences a panic attack, it's typically unexpected. Lightheadedness, diaphoresis
etc are symptoms of anxiety.
A client diagnosed with panic disorder states, "When an attack happens, I feel like I am going to die." Which is
the most appropriate nursing response?
a. "I know it's frightening, but try to remind yourself that this will only last a short time."
b. "Death from a panic attack happens so infrequently that there is no need to worry."
c. "Most people who experience panic attacks have feelings of impending doom."
d. "Tell me why you think you are going to die every time you have a panic attack." Answer- Answer: a
Rationale: Panic attacks range from 1 - 10 minutes. Don't say "tell me why" because cognition is impaired
during an attack.
A nursing instructor is teaching about the medications used to treat panic disorder. Which student statement
indicates that learning has occurred?
a. "Clonazepam (Klonopin) can be used, as needed, in the treatment of panic disorder."
b. "Clozapine (Clozaril) is used off-label in long-term treatment of panic disorder."
c. "Doxepin (Sinequan) can be used in low doses to relieve symptoms."
d. "Buspirone (BuSpar) is used for immediate effect to lower anxiety." Answer- Answer: a
Rationale: Klonopin is a benzodiazepine that is prescribed intermittently until they get someone at a
therapeutic level of an SSRI or Buspar. Don't use clozaril which is an antipsychotic, and Sinequan is an
antidepressant. Buspar wouldn't go into effect immediately, so that choice is wrong.
A family member is seeking advice about an older parent who seems to worry unnecessarily about everything.
The family member states, "Should I seek psychiatric help for my mother?" Which is the best nursing response?
a. "My mother also worries unnecessarily. I think it is part of the aging process."
b. "Anxiety is considered abnormal when it is out of proportion to the stimulus causing it and when it impairs
functioning."
c. "From what you have told me, you should get her to a psychiatrist as soon as possible."
d. "Anxiety is a complex phenomenon and is effectively treated only with psychiatric medications." Answer-
