NU 401 Exam 2 Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025/2026
What are some differences between delirium and dementia? - Answers Delirium: Acute cause,
need to ensure safety, identify and treat underlying cause
Dementia: Chronic, need to ensure safety but do not re-associate, there is no underlying cause
to treat
*Sx are similar, need to ask about when/how sx developed*
What are some qualifications for substance use disorder? - Answers Use of substance
interferes with ADLs, attempts to cut down have failed, use of substances causes strain on
personal relationships, tolerance occurs, engaging in hazardous activities, withdrawal occurs
upon discontinuation
What are some predisposing factors of substance use disorder? - Answers Genetics,
biochemical, psychological factors, psychosocial factors
Substance use disorder is associated with which stage of psychosexual development? -
Answers Oral stage
What are ACEs and how do they relate to substance use disorder? - Answers Adverse Childhood
Experiences; proven to be more likely to have substance use disorders (ex of a sociocultural
factor)
What does it mean to have a punitive superego, and what does it have to do with substance use
disorder? - Answers A harshly critical superego, causing the person to be extremely harsh and
self-critical on themself. This type of superego has a higher risk of substance use
What are the four stages of alcohol use disorder? - Answers I: Pre Alcoholic phase- Use of
alcoholic to relieve everyday stress and tensions of life
II: Early alcoholic phase- Begins with blackouts... alcohol is now required by the person
III: Crucial phase- Person has lost control, physiological dependence is evident
IV: Chronic phase- Emotional and physical disintegration, person intoxicated more than sober
What are some long-term harmful effects of alcohol on the body? - Answers Peripheral
neuropathy, alcoholic myopathy, wernicke's encephalopathy, korsakoff's psychosis, alcoholic
cardiomyopathy, esophagitis, gastritis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, cirrhosis... too many!!!
What is acute vs chronic alcoholic myopathy? - Answers *Thought to result from vitamin B
deficiency*
Acute: Sudden onset of muscle pain, swelling, and weakness, reddish tinge to the urine, rapid
rise in muscle enzymes in blood
, Chronic: Gradual wasting and weakness in skeletal muscles
What can cause wernicke's encephalopathy? - Answers Thiamine deficiency, seen in alcoholic
patients
What is Korsakoff's syndrome? - Answers Syndrome of confusion, loss of memory... often
missed due to similar effects of being drunk
Describe acute vs chronic alcoholic pancreatitis - Answers Acute: *Usually occurs 1 or 2 days
after a binge of excessive alcohol consumption*; sx of constant and severe epigastric pain, N/V,
abdominal distention
Chronic: Steatorrhea (excretion of abnormal quantities of fat), malnutrition, weight loss, and
diabetes
What are the sx associated with alcoholic hepatitis? - Answers Enlarged and tender liver, N/V,
elevated WBC, fever, jaundice, anorexia
What are some complications of cirrhosis of the liver? - Answers Portal hypertension, ascites,
esophageal varices, hepatic encephalopathy
What are some characteristics of FAS?
(there are a lot) - Answers Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Problems with learning, memory, attention span, communication, vision, hearing, abnormal
facial features, small head size, low body weight, shorter-than-average height
When do alcohol intoxication and withdrawal occur? - Answers Intoxication: Blood alcohol levels
between 100 and 200 mg per deciliter
Withdrawal: 4-12 hours of cessation, or reduction in heavy and prolonged use
What are some aspects of sedative/hypnotic-induced disorder intoxication vs withdrawal? -
Answers Intoxication: CNS depressant sx, can range from disinhibition and aggressiveness to
coma and death
Withdrawal: *Severe*, can be life-threatening, onset depends of half-life of drugs taken
What are the aspects of intoxication vs withdrawal of stimulants? - Answers Intoxication:
Euphoria, impaired judgement, confusion, restlessness and insomnia
Withdrawal: Dysphoria, fatigue, sleep disturbances, increased appetite, HA, irritability *should
not quit cold turkey, can have serious effects, taper down with benzos*
What are some sx of intoxication of inhalant-induced disorder? - Answers Dizziness, ataxia,
euphoria, slurred speech, nystagmus, psychomotor retardation, hypoactive reflexes, stupor or
What are some differences between delirium and dementia? - Answers Delirium: Acute cause,
need to ensure safety, identify and treat underlying cause
Dementia: Chronic, need to ensure safety but do not re-associate, there is no underlying cause
to treat
*Sx are similar, need to ask about when/how sx developed*
What are some qualifications for substance use disorder? - Answers Use of substance
interferes with ADLs, attempts to cut down have failed, use of substances causes strain on
personal relationships, tolerance occurs, engaging in hazardous activities, withdrawal occurs
upon discontinuation
What are some predisposing factors of substance use disorder? - Answers Genetics,
biochemical, psychological factors, psychosocial factors
Substance use disorder is associated with which stage of psychosexual development? -
Answers Oral stage
What are ACEs and how do they relate to substance use disorder? - Answers Adverse Childhood
Experiences; proven to be more likely to have substance use disorders (ex of a sociocultural
factor)
What does it mean to have a punitive superego, and what does it have to do with substance use
disorder? - Answers A harshly critical superego, causing the person to be extremely harsh and
self-critical on themself. This type of superego has a higher risk of substance use
What are the four stages of alcohol use disorder? - Answers I: Pre Alcoholic phase- Use of
alcoholic to relieve everyday stress and tensions of life
II: Early alcoholic phase- Begins with blackouts... alcohol is now required by the person
III: Crucial phase- Person has lost control, physiological dependence is evident
IV: Chronic phase- Emotional and physical disintegration, person intoxicated more than sober
What are some long-term harmful effects of alcohol on the body? - Answers Peripheral
neuropathy, alcoholic myopathy, wernicke's encephalopathy, korsakoff's psychosis, alcoholic
cardiomyopathy, esophagitis, gastritis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, cirrhosis... too many!!!
What is acute vs chronic alcoholic myopathy? - Answers *Thought to result from vitamin B
deficiency*
Acute: Sudden onset of muscle pain, swelling, and weakness, reddish tinge to the urine, rapid
rise in muscle enzymes in blood
, Chronic: Gradual wasting and weakness in skeletal muscles
What can cause wernicke's encephalopathy? - Answers Thiamine deficiency, seen in alcoholic
patients
What is Korsakoff's syndrome? - Answers Syndrome of confusion, loss of memory... often
missed due to similar effects of being drunk
Describe acute vs chronic alcoholic pancreatitis - Answers Acute: *Usually occurs 1 or 2 days
after a binge of excessive alcohol consumption*; sx of constant and severe epigastric pain, N/V,
abdominal distention
Chronic: Steatorrhea (excretion of abnormal quantities of fat), malnutrition, weight loss, and
diabetes
What are the sx associated with alcoholic hepatitis? - Answers Enlarged and tender liver, N/V,
elevated WBC, fever, jaundice, anorexia
What are some complications of cirrhosis of the liver? - Answers Portal hypertension, ascites,
esophageal varices, hepatic encephalopathy
What are some characteristics of FAS?
(there are a lot) - Answers Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Problems with learning, memory, attention span, communication, vision, hearing, abnormal
facial features, small head size, low body weight, shorter-than-average height
When do alcohol intoxication and withdrawal occur? - Answers Intoxication: Blood alcohol levels
between 100 and 200 mg per deciliter
Withdrawal: 4-12 hours of cessation, or reduction in heavy and prolonged use
What are some aspects of sedative/hypnotic-induced disorder intoxication vs withdrawal? -
Answers Intoxication: CNS depressant sx, can range from disinhibition and aggressiveness to
coma and death
Withdrawal: *Severe*, can be life-threatening, onset depends of half-life of drugs taken
What are the aspects of intoxication vs withdrawal of stimulants? - Answers Intoxication:
Euphoria, impaired judgement, confusion, restlessness and insomnia
Withdrawal: Dysphoria, fatigue, sleep disturbances, increased appetite, HA, irritability *should
not quit cold turkey, can have serious effects, taper down with benzos*
What are some sx of intoxication of inhalant-induced disorder? - Answers Dizziness, ataxia,
euphoria, slurred speech, nystagmus, psychomotor retardation, hypoactive reflexes, stupor or
