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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.
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The nurse is reviewing the medical record of a patient and notes the information below. Which of the following would be found on Axis III?
- A. Cocaine dependence
- B. Bipolar I disorder
- C. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder
- D. Cellulitis
- E. Homelessness
- F. Arrest for cocaine possession with intent to sell
Correct Answer: C,D
Rationale: Axis III in the DSM-IV-TR includes general medical conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and cellulitis. Cocaine dependence and bipolar I disorder are Axis I, homelessness is Axis IV, and arrests are not typically included in DSM axes.
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.
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.
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.
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.