PN 3003
PN 3003 Variations (Mental Health) Exam
Study Questions and Answers 2025-2026
definition of mental health vs mental illness
mental health:
-state of wellbeing in one's own abilities & normal stresses of life
-only in a complete state of wellbeing when physical, mental, and social well being
is intact
mental illness:
-disturbance in a person's cognition, emotions, or behaviors
primary gain vs secondary gain
primary: anxiety is diverted to the physical problem (ex: stressing over final,
deciding to skip it = no more anxiety)
secondary: receiving attention from another (ex: attention from teacher,
classmates, etc)
repression vs regression
repression
-suppressing a thought or desire so it remains unconscious
ex: child gets bitten by a dog & develops intense phobia of dogs later in adulthood
& doesn't remember experience as a child
regression
-defense mechanism where person reverts back to an earlier stage of development
ex: in periods of stress, person may revert to bedwetting or thumb sucking
define displacement
defense mechanism where it involves an individual transferring negative feelings
from one person or thing to another
PN 3003
,PN 3003
ex: a person who is angry at their boss and may take out their anger on a family
member
define rationalization
Making excuses for actions or feelings
ex: person is rejected by crush & rationalizes situation by saying they were not
attracted to other person anyway
define intellectualization
defense mechanism where person avoid uncomfortable emotions by focusing on
facts & logic
ex: if person A is rude to person B, person B may think about possible reasons for
person A's behavior
what are the stages of grief?
denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance
describe denial stage of grief
-avoiding reality & may act like nothing happened
-allows an adjustment period to gather coping strategies for grieving
describe anger stage of grief
-occurs once reality is real
-expressed in many ways, like crying, expressions of self-blame and guilt
-sometimes anger can turn inwards, which results in physical illness and/or
psychological dysfunction
describe bargaining stage of grief
-an attempt to postpone acceptance of reality
-frequent labile moods
-continued anger & unwillingness to accept loss
describe depression stage of grief
-deep sense of loss as reality of what happened or anticipated settles
-may withdraw from social interaction
PN 3003
,PN 3003
-predominant affect is feelings or emptiness or loss
-sadness & grief can be intertwined w/ good days of positive emotions
-sometimes this period can be overwhelming & recovery from depth of sorrow
unlikely w/o professional help
describe acceptance stage of grief
-person begins to experience peace & serenity
-time for letting go & allowing life to provide new experiences & relationships
describe psychotherapy
use of psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal
interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase happiness, and overcome
problems
describe cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
based on cognitive model that focuses on identifying & correcting distorted
thinking patterns that can lead to emotional stress & problem behaviors
-it is believed that clients respond in stressful situations based on subjective
perception of an event
-once misperception identified, clients can change their behaviors by changing
their maladaptive thinking about themselves & experiences
describe electroconvulsive therapy
biomedical tx using low voltage electric shock waves passed through the brain for
several seconds to induce short periods of seizures
-causes changes in brain chemistry that can immediately reverse symptoms of
certain mental illnesses
-can be used in depression, psychosis, bipolar, catatonia, severe agitation &
aggression in dementia pts
-done 2-3x a week, lasting about 6-12 txs
-confusion clears within hours while memory loss becomes more persistent
what meds are used when performing ECT?
PN 3003
, PN 3003
administered along w/ general anesthesia & muscle relaxants to minimize any
seizures impacting entire body & severe muscle contractions that can fracture or
dislocate bones
when is ECT performed?
recommended when people who have symptoms aren't responding to meds or
psychosocial txs
what is contraindicated for ECT?
-lithium → contributes to cognitive side effects (delirium & cognitive problems)
-BP meds
-benzos
what is important to do after ECT completed?
reorient patient (name, date, location)
what is psychopharmacotherapy
use of medications to treat psychological problems
what are the most common symptoms of psychiatric disorders as described by
DSM-5?
-mood alterations
-irritability & anxiety
-altered thought processes
-misperceptions of environment
-impaired & illogical communication or interaction patterns
-disorientation & confusion
what are the phases of a therapeutic relationship?
Orientation, working, termination
describe orientation phase
pt & nurse getting to know each other
-involves explaining purpose of nurse-pt interaction for building trust, establishing
roles, & identifying problems & expectations
PN 3003
PN 3003 Variations (Mental Health) Exam
Study Questions and Answers 2025-2026
definition of mental health vs mental illness
mental health:
-state of wellbeing in one's own abilities & normal stresses of life
-only in a complete state of wellbeing when physical, mental, and social well being
is intact
mental illness:
-disturbance in a person's cognition, emotions, or behaviors
primary gain vs secondary gain
primary: anxiety is diverted to the physical problem (ex: stressing over final,
deciding to skip it = no more anxiety)
secondary: receiving attention from another (ex: attention from teacher,
classmates, etc)
repression vs regression
repression
-suppressing a thought or desire so it remains unconscious
ex: child gets bitten by a dog & develops intense phobia of dogs later in adulthood
& doesn't remember experience as a child
regression
-defense mechanism where person reverts back to an earlier stage of development
ex: in periods of stress, person may revert to bedwetting or thumb sucking
define displacement
defense mechanism where it involves an individual transferring negative feelings
from one person or thing to another
PN 3003
,PN 3003
ex: a person who is angry at their boss and may take out their anger on a family
member
define rationalization
Making excuses for actions or feelings
ex: person is rejected by crush & rationalizes situation by saying they were not
attracted to other person anyway
define intellectualization
defense mechanism where person avoid uncomfortable emotions by focusing on
facts & logic
ex: if person A is rude to person B, person B may think about possible reasons for
person A's behavior
what are the stages of grief?
denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance
describe denial stage of grief
-avoiding reality & may act like nothing happened
-allows an adjustment period to gather coping strategies for grieving
describe anger stage of grief
-occurs once reality is real
-expressed in many ways, like crying, expressions of self-blame and guilt
-sometimes anger can turn inwards, which results in physical illness and/or
psychological dysfunction
describe bargaining stage of grief
-an attempt to postpone acceptance of reality
-frequent labile moods
-continued anger & unwillingness to accept loss
describe depression stage of grief
-deep sense of loss as reality of what happened or anticipated settles
-may withdraw from social interaction
PN 3003
,PN 3003
-predominant affect is feelings or emptiness or loss
-sadness & grief can be intertwined w/ good days of positive emotions
-sometimes this period can be overwhelming & recovery from depth of sorrow
unlikely w/o professional help
describe acceptance stage of grief
-person begins to experience peace & serenity
-time for letting go & allowing life to provide new experiences & relationships
describe psychotherapy
use of psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal
interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase happiness, and overcome
problems
describe cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
based on cognitive model that focuses on identifying & correcting distorted
thinking patterns that can lead to emotional stress & problem behaviors
-it is believed that clients respond in stressful situations based on subjective
perception of an event
-once misperception identified, clients can change their behaviors by changing
their maladaptive thinking about themselves & experiences
describe electroconvulsive therapy
biomedical tx using low voltage electric shock waves passed through the brain for
several seconds to induce short periods of seizures
-causes changes in brain chemistry that can immediately reverse symptoms of
certain mental illnesses
-can be used in depression, psychosis, bipolar, catatonia, severe agitation &
aggression in dementia pts
-done 2-3x a week, lasting about 6-12 txs
-confusion clears within hours while memory loss becomes more persistent
what meds are used when performing ECT?
PN 3003
, PN 3003
administered along w/ general anesthesia & muscle relaxants to minimize any
seizures impacting entire body & severe muscle contractions that can fracture or
dislocate bones
when is ECT performed?
recommended when people who have symptoms aren't responding to meds or
psychosocial txs
what is contraindicated for ECT?
-lithium → contributes to cognitive side effects (delirium & cognitive problems)
-BP meds
-benzos
what is important to do after ECT completed?
reorient patient (name, date, location)
what is psychopharmacotherapy
use of medications to treat psychological problems
what are the most common symptoms of psychiatric disorders as described by
DSM-5?
-mood alterations
-irritability & anxiety
-altered thought processes
-misperceptions of environment
-impaired & illogical communication or interaction patterns
-disorientation & confusion
what are the phases of a therapeutic relationship?
Orientation, working, termination
describe orientation phase
pt & nurse getting to know each other
-involves explaining purpose of nurse-pt interaction for building trust, establishing
roles, & identifying problems & expectations
PN 3003
