Nokea
A nurse is providing care to a patient with a mental disorder classified by the DSM-IV-TR. The nurse understands that although the first three axes appear to contain all the diagnostic information about a patient, a truly accurate picture of the client is incomplete without considering other factors such as an estimate of current functioning and:
- A. Life stressors
- B. Cultural background
- C. Marital status
- D. Genetic history
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The DSM-IV-TR includes five axes, with Axis IV capturing psychosocial and environmental problems (e.g., life stressors) that contribute to the patient?s condition, complementing the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) on Axis V for a complete picture.
You may also like to solve these questions
A group of students are reviewing the multiaxial diagnostic system of the DSM-IV-TR. The students demonstrate understanding of the axes when they identify that each axis represents which of the following?
- A. An evidence-based research finding
- B. An experimental design to guide care
- C. A domain of information
- D. A laboratory test finding
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Each axis in the DSM-IV-TR represents a distinct domain of information (e.g., clinical disorders, personality disorders, medical conditions, psychosocial stressors, and functioning) to provide a comprehensive diagnostic picture.
After teaching a group of students about mental health and mental illness, the instructor determines that the teaching was successful when the group identifies which of the following as reflecting mental disorders?
- A. Capacity to interact with others
- B. Ability to deal with ordinary stress
- C. Alteration in mood or thinking
- D. Lack of impaired functioning
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Mental disorders are characterized by alterations in mood, thinking, or behavior that cause distress or impair functioning, as defined in the DSM-IV-TR.
Mrs. Green is a patient on a psychiatric unit. At the time of her admission, her dog was killed when a car accidentally ran over it; in addition to that, she just found out that her mother has been diagnosed with colon cancer. This information would be addressed in which DSM-IV axis?
- A. Axis I
- B. Axis II
- C. Axis III
- D. Axis IV
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Psychosocial and environmental problems, such as the death of a pet and a family member?s serious illness, are documented on Axis IV in the DSM-IV-TR, as they contribute to the patient?s mental health context.
A college-aged student and his friend arrive at the student health center. The friend reports that the patient has been having difficulties concentrating, remembering, and thinking. He?s had quite a few research papers due this past week. After ruling out other problems, the nurse determines that the patient is experiencing a culture-bound syndrome. Which of the following would the nurse most likely suspect?
- A. Ataque de nervios
- B. Brain fog
- C. Mal de ojo
- D. Shenjing shuairo
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Brain fog, often associated with stress or academic overload in Western college settings, is a culture-bound syndrome characterized by difficulties in concentration, memory, and thinking, fitting the described symptoms.
As part of a class activity, nursing students are engaged in a small group discussion about the epidemiology of mental illness. Which statement best explains the importance of epidemiology in understanding the impact of mental disorders?
- A. Epidemiology helps promote understanding of the patterns of occurrence associated with mental disorders.
- B. Epidemiology helps explain research findings about the neurophysiology that causes mental disorders.
- C. Epidemiology provides a thorough theoretical explanation of why specific mental disorders occur.
- D. Epidemiology predicts when a specific psychiatric client will recover from a specific mental disorder.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Epidemiology studies the distribution and determinants of mental disorders in populations, helping to identify patterns of occurrence, risk factors, and prevalence to inform public health strategies.