Chapter 13 - Trauma and Stressor:
Test Bank for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, 8th Edition
1. Which of the following statements regarding the individual responses to trauma
and stressors is a positive outcome?
A) Many individuals are unable to cope with the event, manage their stress and
emotions, or resume the daily activities of their lives.
B) Some individuals may develop enhanced coping as a result of dealing with the
stressor.
C) These events are only significant in individuals who have risk for or actual mental
health problems or issues.
D) Large numbers or groups of people may be affected by a traumatic event.
Answer: B
Explanation: A positive outcome of experiencing trauma or stress is the potential for post-
traumatic growth, where individuals develop stronger coping skills, greater resilience, or a
renewed sense of purpose as a result of navigating the difficult experience.
2. What is the major difference between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and
acute stress disorder?
A) In acute stress disorder, the client is likely to develop exacerbation of symptoms.
B) In PTSD, the recovery rate is 80% within 3 months.
C) The severity and duration of the trauma are the most important variables in acute
stress disorder.
D) In PTSD, the symptoms occur 3 months or more after the trauma.
Answer: D
Explanation: The key diagnostic difference is the timing of symptom onset. Acute Stress
Disorder symptoms occur between 2 days and 4 weeks after the trauma, while PTSD
symptoms persist for more than 1 month and often begin 3 months or more after the traumatic
event.
3. Which of the following statements about posttraumatic stress disorder is
accurate?
A) Estimates are that the disorder is very rare.
B) Estimates are that up to 60% of people at risk develop PTSD.
C) Only 20% of victims of rape develop PTSD.
D) PTSD symptoms usually begin at the time of the trauma.
Answer: B
,Explanation: Research indicates that among individuals exposed to significant trauma, up to
60% may develop PTSD, highlighting the substantial impact of traumatic events on mental
health.
4. Which of the following might the nurse recognize as longer-term responses to
trauma and stress? Select all that apply.
A) Acute stress disorder
B) Posttraumatic stress disorder
C) Adjustment disorder
D) Reactive attachment disorder
E) Dissociative disorder
Answer: B, C, D, E
Explanation: PTSD, adjustment disorder, reactive attachment disorder, and dissociative
disorders represent longer-term maladaptive responses to trauma. Acute stress disorder is by
definition a short-term condition (symptoms lasting 3 days to 1 month after trauma).
5. Which of the following would the nurse know are the major elements of
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? Select all that apply.
A) Trying to avoid any places or people or situations that may trigger memories of the
trauma
B) Reexperiencing the trauma through dreams or recurrent and intrusive thoughts
C) Becoming increasingly more isolated
D) Emotional numbing such as feeling detached from others
E) Being on guard, irritable, or experiencing hyperarousal
Answer: B, D, E
Explanation: The three core symptom clusters of PTSD are: 1) re-experiencing (flashbacks,
nightmares), 2) negative alterations in cognition and mood (emotional numbing, detachment),
and 3) hyperarousal (hypervigilance, irritability). Avoidance and isolation are common but
fall under associated features rather than core elements.
6. Which of the following are events that a person may experience, witness, or be
confronted by that may trigger posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? Select all
that apply.
A) Being a survivor of a tsunami that resulted in thousands of deaths
B) Being stranded at the office during a typical winter storm that was anticipated
C) Being a marine in a combat situation where the entire platoon was wiped out
except for one person
D) Being hidden in a closet and hearing the entire family murdered by someone who
, broke into the home
E) Watching televised segments of the moment when the plane hit the second tower
on 9/11
Answer: A, C, D, E
Explanation: PTSD can be triggered by direct exposure to actual or threatened death, serious
injury, or sexual violence, whether experienced directly, witnessed, or learned about
occurring to a close family member/friend. The winter storm scenario lacks the necessary
element of life-threatening trauma.
7. Three years after the death of her father in an ICU, the infection prevention
nurse was visiting an ICU in a different hospital to complete a chart review. At
one point, the nurse looked at a bed where the patient who had the same
diagnosis as her father had and saw her father's facial features on the patient
and had a sense of panic. In a few moments, the nurse realized that the patient in
the bed was not her father. Which of these manifestations of PTSD was this
nurse experiencing?
A) A flashback
B) Emotional numbing
C) Hyperarousal
D) A dream
Answer: A
Explanation: This experience represents a flashback - a dissociative reaction where the person
feels or acts as if the traumatic event were recurring. The nurse's momentary perception of
her father's features on another patient triggered this transient re-experiencing phenomenon.
8. A client is seeking counseling due to difficulty coping with being a victim of a
violent attack 16 months ago. The initial medical diagnosis is to rule out
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Which would the nurse assess for when
determining the major elements of PTSD? Select all that apply.
A) Reexperiencing the trauma through dreams or recurrent and intrusive thoughts
B) Showing emotional numbing such as feeling detached from others
C) Being on guard, irritable, or experiencing hyperarousal
D) Feeling mildly anxious
E) Occurs 2 weeks after the trauma
Answer: A, B, C
Explanation: The nurse should assess for the three core PTSD symptom clusters: re-
experiencing, negative alterations in cognition/mood (including emotional numbing), and
, hyperarousal. Mild anxiety is nonspecific, and symptom onset at 2 weeks would suggest
acute stress disorder rather than PTSD.
9. A man is discovered wandering the street, looking confused and stepping out into
traffic. When emergency responders approach the man, he cannot recall his
name or where he lives. The responders transport the man to the mental health
crisis unit for further evaluation. Which of the following are the man most likely
suffering from? Select all that apply.
A) Depersonalization disorder
B) Dissociative identity disorder
C) Repressed memories
D) Dissociative amnesia
E) False memory syndrome
Answer: A, B, D
Explanation: The man's presentation suggests dissociative symptoms. Dissociative amnesia
involves inability to recall important personal information. Dissociative identity disorder
involves distinct personality states. Depersonalization disorder involves feelings of
detachment from self. Repressed memories and false memory syndrome are theoretical
concepts rather than clinical diagnoses.
10. The police find a woman wandering around a parking lot, singing very loudly.
They bring her to the hospital; she has no knowledge of what she has been doing
for the past 12 hours and is dressed in unfamiliar clothing. This is an example of
A) dissociation.
B) manipulation.
C) psychosis.
D) regression.
Answer: A
Explanation: This represents a dissociative episode characterized by altered consciousness,
memory loss, and identity confusion - all hallmarks of dissociative disorders rather than
manipulation, psychosis, or regression.
11. Which of the following statements by the nurse would be most appropriate to a
colleague who very quietly and numbly tells the nurse that she had arrived at the
scene of an automobile-pedestrian accident and unsuccessfully performed CPR
on a victim 3 days ago? The nurse and her colleague are sitting in the break
room and no one else is present.
A) "Tell me what you saw."
Test Bank for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, 8th Edition
1. Which of the following statements regarding the individual responses to trauma
and stressors is a positive outcome?
A) Many individuals are unable to cope with the event, manage their stress and
emotions, or resume the daily activities of their lives.
B) Some individuals may develop enhanced coping as a result of dealing with the
stressor.
C) These events are only significant in individuals who have risk for or actual mental
health problems or issues.
D) Large numbers or groups of people may be affected by a traumatic event.
Answer: B
Explanation: A positive outcome of experiencing trauma or stress is the potential for post-
traumatic growth, where individuals develop stronger coping skills, greater resilience, or a
renewed sense of purpose as a result of navigating the difficult experience.
2. What is the major difference between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and
acute stress disorder?
A) In acute stress disorder, the client is likely to develop exacerbation of symptoms.
B) In PTSD, the recovery rate is 80% within 3 months.
C) The severity and duration of the trauma are the most important variables in acute
stress disorder.
D) In PTSD, the symptoms occur 3 months or more after the trauma.
Answer: D
Explanation: The key diagnostic difference is the timing of symptom onset. Acute Stress
Disorder symptoms occur between 2 days and 4 weeks after the trauma, while PTSD
symptoms persist for more than 1 month and often begin 3 months or more after the traumatic
event.
3. Which of the following statements about posttraumatic stress disorder is
accurate?
A) Estimates are that the disorder is very rare.
B) Estimates are that up to 60% of people at risk develop PTSD.
C) Only 20% of victims of rape develop PTSD.
D) PTSD symptoms usually begin at the time of the trauma.
Answer: B
,Explanation: Research indicates that among individuals exposed to significant trauma, up to
60% may develop PTSD, highlighting the substantial impact of traumatic events on mental
health.
4. Which of the following might the nurse recognize as longer-term responses to
trauma and stress? Select all that apply.
A) Acute stress disorder
B) Posttraumatic stress disorder
C) Adjustment disorder
D) Reactive attachment disorder
E) Dissociative disorder
Answer: B, C, D, E
Explanation: PTSD, adjustment disorder, reactive attachment disorder, and dissociative
disorders represent longer-term maladaptive responses to trauma. Acute stress disorder is by
definition a short-term condition (symptoms lasting 3 days to 1 month after trauma).
5. Which of the following would the nurse know are the major elements of
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? Select all that apply.
A) Trying to avoid any places or people or situations that may trigger memories of the
trauma
B) Reexperiencing the trauma through dreams or recurrent and intrusive thoughts
C) Becoming increasingly more isolated
D) Emotional numbing such as feeling detached from others
E) Being on guard, irritable, or experiencing hyperarousal
Answer: B, D, E
Explanation: The three core symptom clusters of PTSD are: 1) re-experiencing (flashbacks,
nightmares), 2) negative alterations in cognition and mood (emotional numbing, detachment),
and 3) hyperarousal (hypervigilance, irritability). Avoidance and isolation are common but
fall under associated features rather than core elements.
6. Which of the following are events that a person may experience, witness, or be
confronted by that may trigger posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? Select all
that apply.
A) Being a survivor of a tsunami that resulted in thousands of deaths
B) Being stranded at the office during a typical winter storm that was anticipated
C) Being a marine in a combat situation where the entire platoon was wiped out
except for one person
D) Being hidden in a closet and hearing the entire family murdered by someone who
, broke into the home
E) Watching televised segments of the moment when the plane hit the second tower
on 9/11
Answer: A, C, D, E
Explanation: PTSD can be triggered by direct exposure to actual or threatened death, serious
injury, or sexual violence, whether experienced directly, witnessed, or learned about
occurring to a close family member/friend. The winter storm scenario lacks the necessary
element of life-threatening trauma.
7. Three years after the death of her father in an ICU, the infection prevention
nurse was visiting an ICU in a different hospital to complete a chart review. At
one point, the nurse looked at a bed where the patient who had the same
diagnosis as her father had and saw her father's facial features on the patient
and had a sense of panic. In a few moments, the nurse realized that the patient in
the bed was not her father. Which of these manifestations of PTSD was this
nurse experiencing?
A) A flashback
B) Emotional numbing
C) Hyperarousal
D) A dream
Answer: A
Explanation: This experience represents a flashback - a dissociative reaction where the person
feels or acts as if the traumatic event were recurring. The nurse's momentary perception of
her father's features on another patient triggered this transient re-experiencing phenomenon.
8. A client is seeking counseling due to difficulty coping with being a victim of a
violent attack 16 months ago. The initial medical diagnosis is to rule out
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Which would the nurse assess for when
determining the major elements of PTSD? Select all that apply.
A) Reexperiencing the trauma through dreams or recurrent and intrusive thoughts
B) Showing emotional numbing such as feeling detached from others
C) Being on guard, irritable, or experiencing hyperarousal
D) Feeling mildly anxious
E) Occurs 2 weeks after the trauma
Answer: A, B, C
Explanation: The nurse should assess for the three core PTSD symptom clusters: re-
experiencing, negative alterations in cognition/mood (including emotional numbing), and
, hyperarousal. Mild anxiety is nonspecific, and symptom onset at 2 weeks would suggest
acute stress disorder rather than PTSD.
9. A man is discovered wandering the street, looking confused and stepping out into
traffic. When emergency responders approach the man, he cannot recall his
name or where he lives. The responders transport the man to the mental health
crisis unit for further evaluation. Which of the following are the man most likely
suffering from? Select all that apply.
A) Depersonalization disorder
B) Dissociative identity disorder
C) Repressed memories
D) Dissociative amnesia
E) False memory syndrome
Answer: A, B, D
Explanation: The man's presentation suggests dissociative symptoms. Dissociative amnesia
involves inability to recall important personal information. Dissociative identity disorder
involves distinct personality states. Depersonalization disorder involves feelings of
detachment from self. Repressed memories and false memory syndrome are theoretical
concepts rather than clinical diagnoses.
10. The police find a woman wandering around a parking lot, singing very loudly.
They bring her to the hospital; she has no knowledge of what she has been doing
for the past 12 hours and is dressed in unfamiliar clothing. This is an example of
A) dissociation.
B) manipulation.
C) psychosis.
D) regression.
Answer: A
Explanation: This represents a dissociative episode characterized by altered consciousness,
memory loss, and identity confusion - all hallmarks of dissociative disorders rather than
manipulation, psychosis, or regression.
11. Which of the following statements by the nurse would be most appropriate to a
colleague who very quietly and numbly tells the nurse that she had arrived at the
scene of an automobile-pedestrian accident and unsuccessfully performed CPR
on a victim 3 days ago? The nurse and her colleague are sitting in the break
room and no one else is present.
A) "Tell me what you saw."
