Deck 26: Psychotic Disorders

Question 1

Excess activity along which dopaminergic pathway is related to positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

A) Tuberoinfundibular
B) Mesolimbic
C) Mesocortical
D) Nigrostriatal

Answer 1

Mesolimbic

Question 2

The vulnerability-liability theory proposes that

A) Individuals who are homeless are more vulnerable to developing schizophrenia.
B) Genetics can make an individual vulnerable to schizophrenia, but the environment plays a role.
C) Individuals whose parents were older when they were born are more vulnerable to developing schizophrenia.
D) Drug users are more vulnerable to developing schizophrenia.

Answer 2

Genetics can make an individual vulnerable to schizophrenia, but the environment plays a role.

Question 3

Neuroimaging of an individual with schizophrenia would show

A) Increase in brain volume, lateral and third ventricle enlargement, and decreased cortical tissue
B) Increase in brain volume, fourth ventricle enlargement, and decreased cortical tissue
C) Decrease in brain volume, fourth ventricle enlargement, and increased cortical tissue
D) Decrease in brain volume, lateral and third ventricle enlargement, and decreased cortical tissue

Answer 3

Decrease in brain volume, lateral and third ventricle enlargement, and decreased cortical tissue

Question 4

While a patient is actively hallucinating, the nurse practitioner should do all of the following except

A) Face away from the patient to give them privacy
B) Support the patient's delusions
C) Touch the patient on the arm
D) Asking the patient if they are having command hallucinations

Question 5

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can be beneficial to patients experiencing psychosis under which conditions?

A) When they are experiencing delusions
B) Before taking their medication
C) Only when patients are initially diagnosed
D) When the patient has rational thoughts and normal sensory perceptions

Question 6

Symptoms of tardive dyskinesia include

A) Involuntary mouth movements and difficulty speaking and swallowing
B) Akathisia, dystonia, and tremor
C) Dry mouth, dry eyes, and blurred vision
D) Constipation, urinary retention, and orthostatic hypotension

Question 7

Antipsychotic medications are indicated for all of the following except

A) Suppressing psychotic symptoms
B) Preventing relapse
C) Improving quality of life
D) Eliminating the need for cognitive therapy

Question 8

Which instruction should the nurse practitioner provide when prescribing lithium to a patient with bipolar disorder for the first time?

A) "Eat extra calories so that you don't lose too much weight."
B) "You will probably urinate less than usual."
C) "It is essential to maintaining adequate fluid intake."
D) "Monitor for symptoms of hyperthyroidism."

Question 9

In bipolar disorder, rapid cycling between the manic and depressive episodes causes

A) Stimulation of neurons so that more stimulation is needed to evoke a response
B) Stimulation of neurons so that eventually less stimulation is needed to evoke a response
C) Rapid depletion of dopamine, which causes an increase in symptoms
D) Rapid depletion of serotonin, which causes an increase in symptoms

Question 10

Individuals with psychotic disorders are at higher risk for

A) Substance abuse
B) Diabetes
C) Suicide
D) All of the above

Question 11

Which therapeutic communication technique is the nurse practitioner using when saying to the patient, "You seem sad"?

A) Giving recognition
B) Making observations
C) Accepting
D) Presenting reality

Question 12

A patient with psychosis tells the nurse practitioner, "The police are following me. They want to kill me." This is an example of which delusional thought?

A) Grandeur
B) Control or influence
C) Persecution
D) Nihilism

Question 13

Which antipsychotic medication interferes with binding of dopamine to D₁ and D₂ postsynaptic receptors in the limbic system?

A) Clozapine
B) Lithium
C) Haloperidol
D) Aripiprazole

Question 14

A patient with bipolar disorder has been taking valproic acid and returns to the clinic for regular monitoring of drug levels. The therapeutic range for this drug is

A) 25-50 mcg/mL
B) 50-75 mcg/mL
C) 50-100 mcg/mL
D) 75-125 mcg/mL

Question 15

When referring to Case Study 6: Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), what instruction should the nurse practitioner provide to the parents of a child newly prescribed a methylphenidate transdermal patch?

A) "Apply the transdermal patch when your child needs it to take effect and they can wear it for 4 hours."
B) "Apply the transdermal patch 1 hour before your child needs it to take effect and they can wear it for 8 hours."
C) "Apply the transdermal patch 2 hours before your child needs it to take effect and they can wear it for 9 hours."
D) "Apply the transdermal patch 2 hours before your child needs it to take effect and they can wear it for 12 hours."