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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.
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A psychiatric-mental health nurse is preparing a presentation about recovery for a group of newly hired nurses for the mental health facility. Which of the following would the nurse identify as one of the most important concepts?
- A. Self-direction
- B. Peer support
- C. Respect
- D. Hope
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Hope is a foundational concept in the recovery model, as it inspires individuals to believe in their potential for recovery and motivates engagement in treatment and personal growth.
While working in a community mental health treatment center, the nurse overhears one of the receptionists saying that one of the patients is really psycho. Later in the day, the nurse talks with the receptionist about the comment. This action by the nurse demonstrates an attempt to address which issue?
- A. Lack of knowledge
- B. Public stigma
- C. Label avoidance
- D. Self-stigma
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The receptionist?s use of 'psycho' reflects public stigma, a negative stereotype about mental illness. The nurse?s action aims to address this stigma by promoting respectful language and attitudes.
A female patient was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia, and in the course of her treatment, it was determined that she was experiencing alcohol dependence because she began experiencing alcohol withdrawal while she was in the hospital. When the psychiatrist who was called in as a consultant documented the patient?s mental disorder, he identified her alcohol dependence on which axis?
- A. Axis I
- B. Axis II
- C. Axis III
- D. Axis IV
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Alcohol dependence is classified as a clinical disorder under Axis I in the DSM-IV-TR, which includes major mental disorders and substance-related disorders.
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.
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.