Depressive Disorders
This depressive disorder involves chronic low‑level depression lasting at least two years in adults.
What is Persistent Depressive Disorder?
Adults symptoms persist for two years.
Children symptoms persist for 1 year.
Splitting—viewing others as all good or all bad—is the primary defense mechanism used in this disorder.
What is borderline personality disorder?
Differentiate anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
Anorexia: This eating disorder has the highest mortality rate and includes an intense fear of gaining weight.
Bulimia: This eating disorder involves binge eating followed by purging but often presents with normal weight.
These are the three cardinal behavior patterns seen in children with ADHD.
What are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity?
This bipolar disorder is a psychiatric emergency due to severe impairment in judgment, impulse control, and risk-taking behaviors.
What is Bipolar I disorder?
This antidepressant class is considered first‑line pharmacologic treatment for Major Depressive Disorder.
1st Line: SSRIs --> SSRIs
2nd Line: TCAs --> MAOIs
Thoughts on St. John's Wort?
This is the key difference between somatic symptom disorders and dissociative disorders.
What is that somatic disorders involve physical symptoms, while dissociative disorders involve disruptions in consciousness, memory, or identity?
A nurse observes a client immediately leaving the dining area after meals. This cue is most concerning for what behavior?
What is purging following meal consumption?
This evidence-based psychological therapy has the strongest support for improving language and cognition in autism.
What is Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI)?
These schizophrenia symptoms represent a loss of normal functioning and are more difficult to treat pharmacologically.
What are negative symptoms?
The RN prioritizes this assessment when a patient suddenly becomes calm after days of severe depression.
What is suicide risk reassessment?
What would we do in this situation?
This nursing intervention is most appropriate when caring for a patient with Cluster B disorders.
What is providing clear, simple explanations, adhering to rules set out by staff, while maintaining a neutral demeanor. Avoid manipulation tactics.
This assessment finding places a patient with bulimia at highest immediate risk for mortality.
What is abnormal potassium levels leading to cardiac dysrhythmias?
This ADHD medication is a stimulant commonly associated with insomnia if given too late in the day.
What is methylphenidate (Ritalin) or amphetamine salts (Adderall)?
A patient states, “I am one with God and destined to save the world.” This finding is best documented as which type of delusion?
What is a grandiose delusion?
This intervention helps patients restructure negative thoughts contributing to depression.
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Which personality disorder?
Magical thinking, odd beliefs, and unusual speech patterns are hallmark symptoms.
Is characterized by emotional lability, unstable relationships, and chronic suicidal ideation.
This personality disorder is associated with a profound lack of empathy, deceitfulness, and frequent violation of others’ rights.
What is schizotypal personality disorder?
What is borderline personality disorder?
What is antisocial personality disorder?
This physical finding, caused by repeated self-induced vomiting, includes calluses or scars on the hand.
What is Russell sign?
This term refers to individuals with autism who may have low overall functioning but exceptional abilities in specific areas.
What is Savant Syndrome?
A patient taking lithium begins a low‑sodium diet. The nurse recognizes this increases the risk for which complication?
What is lithium toxicity?
This screening tool should be administered at baseline and periodically, even when depressive symptoms are not overt.
What is the PHQ‑9 (Patient Health Questionnaire‑9)?
This defense mechanism involves emotionally separating from overwhelming anxiety and traumatic memories.
What is dissociation?
This medication is contraindicated in bulimia nervosa due to increased seizure risk.
What is bupropion (Wellbutrin)?
This nursing intervention is essential for children with autism to reduce anxiety and behavioral distress.
What is providing structure with consistent rules and expectations?
What are extrapyramidal symptoms? What type of medication can cause them?
First-generation antipsychotics are dopamine (D2) antagonists in both limbic and motor centers. Blockage of D2 receptors in motor areas causes extrapyramidal side effects (EPSs), including the following:
Acute dystonia—A sudden, sustained contraction of one or several muscle groups, usually of the head and neck.
Akathisia—A motor restlessness that causes pacing and/or an inability to stay still or remain in one place.
Pseudoparkinsonism—A temporary group of symptoms that resemble Parkinson disease: tremor, reduced accessory movements (e.g., arms swinging when walking), gait impairment, reduced facial expressiveness (mask facies), and slowing of motor behavior (bradykinesia).
Tardive dyskinesia is a persistent EPS involving involuntary rhythmic movements.