Deck 24: Populations Affected by Mental Illness

Question 1

A patient with severe panic attacks refuses to come to the mental health clinic to get help even after being assured there is no charge for the initial assessment.Which of the following provides the best explanation for this behavior?

A)People know that the treatment is to confront your fears in small doses, and the very idea is overwhelming and frightening.
B)Such persons have anticipatory anxiety, so they try to avoid situations that may lead to a panic attack, such as leaving their house.
C)The recurring symptoms such as tachycardia, chest pain, nausea, and sweating are seen as symptoms of a physical illness, not a mental illness.
D)They are too depressed to take action.

Answer 1

Such persons have anticipatory anxiety, so they try to avoid situations that may lead to a panic attack, such as leaving their house.

Question 2

Which of the following was the primary recommendation of the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health report for the mental health service delivery system?

A)Advised the president to drastically increase funding for mental health
B)Increased scholarships and grants to health care professionals willing to specialize in care of the mentally ill
C)Suggested the federal government take over responsibility for mental health care for all citizens
D)Called for a shift from a fragmented nonsystem to an integrated comprehensive approach to care delivery

Answer 2

Called for a shift from a fragmented nonsystem to an integrated comprehensive approach to care delivery

Question 3

A nurse is picking up her child from nursery school when the day care teacher says to her,"One of the boys we care for does not seem able to sit still and listen,but is always running around and getting into things.His parents are not worried.His mother said her brother was the same way when he was a kid.Since you are a nurse,do you have any ideas on how I can calm him down?" Which of the following would be the most appropriate response by the nurse?

A)"I'm not a pediatric nurse; I really don't know what to tell you."
B)"I'm sorry you're concerned, but being impulsive and very physically active is quite normal for 3- to 4-year-old children."
C)"Tell the parents he has to see the doctor as he's not doing well in nursery school."
D)"Why not suggest that it's time for him to have a complete assessment and suggest the physician call you for an update on how he is doing in nursery school?"

Answer 3

"Why not suggest that it's time for him to have a complete assessment and suggest the physician call you for an update on how he is doing in nursery school?"

Question 4

A nurse is working in a community setting caring for persons with mental health problems and their families.Which of the following is the most important and critical task for this nurse?

A)Be an advocate by writing letters to legislators demanding more resources for care for the mentally ill
B)Encourage all those involved to fight the community's tendency to stigmatize the mentally ill and their families
C)Establish supportive interpersonal relationships with all those involved
D)Lobby for increased funding for care of the mentally ill

Question 5

Which of the following provides the best description of severe mental illness (SMI)?

A)Having been clearly diagnosed with at least two mental health disorders within the past year
B)Having a diagnosable mental disorder with moderate functional behavior in a specific area of lifestyle at any time during the past year
C)Being unable to function in society due to a mental illness
D)Being convicted of several impulsive crimes during the past year

Question 6

Which of the following would be most upsetting for American families when their loved one,after serving in Iraq or some other battlefield,returns home?

A)Many families, especially those with children, do not want guns in the house.
B)Reabsorbing them into the family structure is challenging and difficult.
C)The suicide rate is twice as high as among nonveteran adults.
D)They must use the Veterans Affairs medical system for medical care.

Question 7

A person with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)knows the ritual is senseless,but is unable to stop.Which of the following best explains why he does not quit doing the ritual?

A)As rituals become habit, others will worry about the person if he or she suddenly stops engaging in the ritual behavior.
B)Engaging in rituals allows the individual to feel in control.
C)If the compulsion is resisted, anxiety increases.
D)Rituals, even if nonsensical, are comforting and reassuring.

Question 8

A family was very pleased with how well their child was doing now that he was on medication.They congratulated the nurse on getting their child help and said they were so impressed that the nurse was able to cure him.Which of the following would be the most appropriate response by the nurse?

A)Congratulate them on being so supportive to their child through this ordeal.
B)Stress that the medication is controlling the symptoms and their child will continue to need their support.
C)Thank them for their recognition of the role you-and all nurses-play in promoting health.
D)Verbalize your observations of how well their child is doing.

Question 9

Which of the following females would be at greatest risk for developing anorexia nervosa?

A)A young woman who had been badly hurt in a car accident and is now living with her grandparents but managing to retain her high school Grade Point Average (GPA)
B)A young woman who is a fantastic athlete but acts out and does what she feels is best, regardless of what others think
C)A "good girl," obedient to her parents' wishes, who always agrees with peers in her clique and strives to do everything perfectly
D)A student under a lot of stress from family events at home but who has good coping skills and recognizes that she is coping with major life changes

Question 10

A college student visits the student health center and tells the nurse that his roommate is talking about killing himself,has given some of his possessions away,and he believes the roommate has a gun.Which of the following actions should be taken by the nurse?

A)Ask the student why he is telling this story; what does he expect the nurse to do?
B)Call the police immediately, and have the student tell them the story.
C)Call the roommate, and set up an appointment for him to come to the student health center to discuss how things are going in his life right now.
D)Call the roommate, ask if he is thinking of killing himself, and, if so, how is he thinking of doing that?
E)Immediately locate the roommate, talk to him, and, if the story is confirmed, stay with him until emergency services arrive.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes how people with mental illness are viewed by the general public?

A)Individuals in need of assistance
B)Criminals who need to be institutionalized
C)Lazy, weak, and immoral
D)Contributing members of society

Question 12

A patient had a distorted thought pattern,which led to very uncomfortable feelings and inappropriate behaviors.Which of the following types of therapy would most likely be successful?

A)Behavioral therapy
B)Cognitive-behavioral therapy
C)Family therapy
D)Group therapy

Question 13

Which of the following events occurred in 1965?

A)State mental hospitals were created.
B)The mentally ill were deinstitutionalized.
C)Electroconvulsive therapy was discovered to help depression.
D)Community mental health centers for outpatient care were established.

Question 14

Which of the following was required by the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008?

A)That alcoholism be recognized as a disease and treatment be given in residential facilities
B)That drug addiction be accepted as a mental health diagnosis and addicts be treated rather than jailed when caught
C)That health insurance must cover treatment for mental illness on the same terms and conditions as physical illness
D)That community clinics must treat clients for mental illness just as they treat prisoners who have a physical illness

Question 15

Which of the following females would be at greatest risk for developing bulimia nervosa?

A)A 13-year-old who is constantly snacking on food from her backpack all day
B)A 14-year-old student who is known as a nerd
C)A 15-year-old cheerleader who wants to be a professional ballerina
D)An 11-year-old student with the highest Grade Point Average (GPA) in the school

Question 16

Which of the following best describes how brain imaging scans are being used?

A)To deliver electroconvulsive therapy to high-risk individuals
B)To help detect and diagnose medical disorders and illnesses
C)To help determine treatment options for mental disorders
D)To help determine the effects of psychotherapy

Question 17

A student said she wanted to discuss an issue with the nurse but that it was confidential.Therefore,she asks the nurse to promise as a professional to keep this a secret.She then shares that her roommate is very depressed; her older sister committed suicide,and she is planning on killing herself if she does not pass her final examinations.Which of the following actions should be taken by the nurse?

A)As a professional who made a promise, the nurse teaches the student how to recognize if her roommate is getting ready to actually do it and the phone number of the suicide hot line.
B)As secrecy was promised, the nurse can only encourage the student to encourage her roommate to seek help.
C)The nurse should give the student brochures and information plus the suicide hotline phone number to share with her roommate.
D)The nurse should stress that one cannot keep a secret when someone's life is at stake and immediately go to assess the roommate.

Question 18

Which of the following best summarizes the symptoms of a person with bipolar disorder?

A)Chronic, unrealistic, and exaggerated worry about life
B)Ongoing hallucinations and delusions
C)Changes in mood from depression to mania
D)A persistent abnormally elevated or irritable mood

Question 19

Which of the following best explains why having parity in insurance coverage does not always help persons with depression?

A)Many persons find that the medications do not relieve symptoms.
B)Most depressed persons do not seek treatment.
C)Most depression is situational, and having insurance does not change the situation.
D)Psychotherapists will not accept the low reimbursement offered by insurance plans.

Question 20

Which of the following mental illnesses is most frequently diagnosed among adults in the United States?

A)Acute stress disorder
B)Bipolar disorder
C)Depression
D)Schizophrenia

Question 21

A nurse suspects that a client is depressed.Which of the following symptoms is most likely being exhibited by the client? (Select all that apply.)

A)Paranoia
B)Fatigue
C)Irritability
D)Difficulty concentrating
E)Hallucinations
F)Impulsivity

Question 22

Which of the following are the causes of mental illness? (Select all that apply.)

A)Excessive amounts of brain serotonin, dopamine, and ?-aminobutyric acid
B)Genetic inheritance combined with neurochemical and metabolic changes
C)Living through a severe disaster, whether manmade or natural
D)Physiological abnormalities in the brain structure
E)Posttraumatic stress syndrome (PTSD)
F)Social isolation, rejection, and/or stress

Question 23

Which of the following behaviors best represent the definition of mental health? (Select all that apply.)

A)Currently enjoys receiving unemployment benefits
B)Frequent dates, although most relationships are short term
C)Happily married and successful parent of three children
D)Just promoted with more responsibilities and increased salary
E)
Lives alone in a small apartment
F)Set up a memorial fund for research after death of a family member