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NURS 340
NURS 340/ NURS340 – Public Health
Nursing | WCU | 2026–2027 | Exam 2 with
Verified Questions and Answers
1. What are hyperarousal symptoms in regard to PTSD?: Marked alterations
in arousal and reactivity associated w/ the traumatic event(s) as evidenced
by two or more of the following:
1.) Irritable behavior and angry outbursts
2.) Reckless or self-destructive behavior
3.) Hypervigilance
4.) Exaggerated startle response
5.) Problems with concentration
6.) Sleep disturbances
2. What are the risk factors for PTSD?: - genetic variability
- neurobiological
NURS
,-environmental
3. What are the neurobiological risk factors of PTSD?: - normal stress
response: sympathetic nervous system balanced by the parasympathetic
nervous system
- Trauma stress response: hypothalamus release CRH-> more cortisol.
Parasympathetic response triggers a hypoarousal state that may result in
dissociation
4. What are the environmental risk factors for PTSD?: - in regard to
children/adolescents, neuroplasticity of the developing brain increases
vulnerability to adverse experiences
- family stability (more apt. to be resilient) vs. instability
- racial disparities in health insurance, services, and quality of care
- social support can enhance resilience
5. What are frequent comorbidities of PTSD?: - major depression
- anxiety disorders
- sleep disorders
,- substance use disorders
- dissociative disorders
6. What is the primary treatment for PTSD?: trauma-focused therapy
(trauma-focused CBT [TF-CBT]) or EMDR
- CBT for anxiety management and other symptoms
7. What is EMDR?: eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
8. What is the first line of medications used to treat PTSD?: - antidepressants-
SSRIs such as sertraline (Zoloft) or paroxetine (Paxil) are FDA approved
9. What are other medications used to treat PTSD?: - SNRI- Venlaflaxine (also
considered to be 1st line)
- for nightmares or nighttime hyperarousal, Prazosin (BP medication that
blocks alpha 1 receptors (which norepinephrine binds to-so blocks fight or
flight) in CNS, which blocks stress response
10. What is acute stress disorder?: develops after exposure to highly
traumatic event like those listed with PTSD; Diagnosed 3 days to 1 month
after traumatic event; more likely to experience derealization 15. What
constitutes acute stress disroder?: 8 of the following symptoms:
, numbing, derealization, inability to recall aspects of event, intrusive
memories, nightmares, flashbacks, distress with reminders of the event,
avoidance of reminders of the event, sleep difficulty, hypervigilance,
irritability, agitation
11. What is the treatment for acute stress disorder?: - establish a therapeutic
relationship
- ensure safety
- TF-CBT may prevent PTSD
12. What is adjustment disorder?: A milder, less specific version of
acute stress disorder and PTSD; precipitated by stressful event; high
prevalence on medical units; diagnosed immediately or within 3 months of
it happening
13. What symptoms does adjustment disorder include?: Symptoms
may include all forms of distress (guilt, depression, anxiety, anger)
- these feelings may be combined with other manifestations of distress
(physical complains, social withdrawal, impaired occupational function,
academic decline)
NURS 340
NURS 340/ NURS340 – Public Health
Nursing | WCU | 2026–2027 | Exam 2 with
Verified Questions and Answers
1. What are hyperarousal symptoms in regard to PTSD?: Marked alterations
in arousal and reactivity associated w/ the traumatic event(s) as evidenced
by two or more of the following:
1.) Irritable behavior and angry outbursts
2.) Reckless or self-destructive behavior
3.) Hypervigilance
4.) Exaggerated startle response
5.) Problems with concentration
6.) Sleep disturbances
2. What are the risk factors for PTSD?: - genetic variability
- neurobiological
NURS
,-environmental
3. What are the neurobiological risk factors of PTSD?: - normal stress
response: sympathetic nervous system balanced by the parasympathetic
nervous system
- Trauma stress response: hypothalamus release CRH-> more cortisol.
Parasympathetic response triggers a hypoarousal state that may result in
dissociation
4. What are the environmental risk factors for PTSD?: - in regard to
children/adolescents, neuroplasticity of the developing brain increases
vulnerability to adverse experiences
- family stability (more apt. to be resilient) vs. instability
- racial disparities in health insurance, services, and quality of care
- social support can enhance resilience
5. What are frequent comorbidities of PTSD?: - major depression
- anxiety disorders
- sleep disorders
,- substance use disorders
- dissociative disorders
6. What is the primary treatment for PTSD?: trauma-focused therapy
(trauma-focused CBT [TF-CBT]) or EMDR
- CBT for anxiety management and other symptoms
7. What is EMDR?: eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
8. What is the first line of medications used to treat PTSD?: - antidepressants-
SSRIs such as sertraline (Zoloft) or paroxetine (Paxil) are FDA approved
9. What are other medications used to treat PTSD?: - SNRI- Venlaflaxine (also
considered to be 1st line)
- for nightmares or nighttime hyperarousal, Prazosin (BP medication that
blocks alpha 1 receptors (which norepinephrine binds to-so blocks fight or
flight) in CNS, which blocks stress response
10. What is acute stress disorder?: develops after exposure to highly
traumatic event like those listed with PTSD; Diagnosed 3 days to 1 month
after traumatic event; more likely to experience derealization 15. What
constitutes acute stress disroder?: 8 of the following symptoms:
, numbing, derealization, inability to recall aspects of event, intrusive
memories, nightmares, flashbacks, distress with reminders of the event,
avoidance of reminders of the event, sleep difficulty, hypervigilance,
irritability, agitation
11. What is the treatment for acute stress disorder?: - establish a therapeutic
relationship
- ensure safety
- TF-CBT may prevent PTSD
12. What is adjustment disorder?: A milder, less specific version of
acute stress disorder and PTSD; precipitated by stressful event; high
prevalence on medical units; diagnosed immediately or within 3 months of
it happening
13. What symptoms does adjustment disorder include?: Symptoms
may include all forms of distress (guilt, depression, anxiety, anger)
- these feelings may be combined with other manifestations of distress
(physical complains, social withdrawal, impaired occupational function,
academic decline)
