A nurse is preparing a presentation about mental disorders and plans to include how mental disorders are different from medical disorders. Which statement would be most appropriate for the nurse to include?
- A. Mental disorders are defined by an underlying biological pathology.
- B. Numerous laboratory tests are used to aid in the diagnosis of mental disorders.
- C. Cluster of behaviors, thoughts, and feelings characterize mental disorders.
- D. Manifestations of mental disorders are within normal, expected parameters.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Mental disorders are characterized by a cluster of behaviors, thoughts, and feelings that cause distress or impairment, unlike medical disorders, which often have clear biological markers or laboratory tests.
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A nursing instructor is describing the DSM-IV-TR to a group of nursing students. Which of the following would the instructor include as the primary purpose of this classification?
- A. Provide a commonly understood diagnostic category for clinical practice.
- B. Describe treatment modalities for psychiatric disorders and mental illnesses.
- C. Identify various etiologies for mental disorders based on family histories.
- D. Provide optimal outcomes for treatment for individuals with mental illnesses.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The primary purpose of the DSM-IV-TR is to provide a standardized, commonly understood diagnostic framework for mental disorders to ensure consistency in clinical practice, research, and communication among healthcare professionals.
A nursing student is assigned to care for a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia. When talking about this patient in a clinical postconference, the student would use which terminology when referring to the patient?
- A. Committed patient
- B. Schizophrenic
- C. Schizophrenic patient
- D. Person with schizophrenia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Person-first language, such as 'person with schizophrenia,' is preferred to avoid defining the individual by their diagnosis, reducing stigma and promoting respectful communication.
A nursing student is reviewing journal articles about major depression. One of the articles describes the number of persons newly diagnosed with the disorder during the past year. The student interprets this as which of the following?
- A. Rate
- B. Prevalence
- C. Point prevalence
- D. Incidence
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Incidence refers to the number of new cases of a disorder (e.g., major depression) diagnosed within a specific time period, such as the past year.
A psychiatric-mental health nurse is providing care for a patient with a mental disorder. The patient is participating in the decision-making process. The nurse interprets this as which component of recovery?
- A. Self-direction
- B. Empowerment
- C. Person-centered
- D. Holistic
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Self-direction, a key component of the recovery model, involves patients actively participating in their treatment decisions, reflecting autonomy and personal agency.
Which of the following would a nurse identify as being categorized as Axis I in the DSM-IV-TR?
- A. Paranoid personality disorder
- B. Posttraumatic stress disorder
- C. Anorexia nervosa
- D. Mental retardation
- E. Unemployment
- F. Coronary artery disease
Correct Answer: B,C
Rationale: Axis I in the DSM-IV-TR includes clinical disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder and anorexia nervosa. Paranoid personality disorder and mental retardation are Axis II, unemployment is Axis IV, and coronary artery disease is Axis III.
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