NURS 6550 MIDTERM-Psych Test
Questions And Already Passed Answers.
An adjustment disorder that persists and worsens can potentially evolve into other psychiatric disorder
such as - Answer major depression or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Maladaptive behavior in response to stress is called - Answer adjustment disorder, with the major
symptom specified (eg, "adjustment disorder with depressed mood"
PTSD is classified as what type of disorder in the DSM-5 - Answer Trauma and stressor - not anxiety
The key to establishing the diagnosis of PTSD lies - Answer in the history of exposure to a life-
threatening event followed by intrusive (eg, flashbacks, nightmares) or avoidance (eg, withdrawal)
symptoms. DSM-5 includes the requirement that the symptoms persist for at least 1 month.
Patients with PTSD experience - Answer physiologic hyperarousal, including startle reactions, intrusive
thoughts, illusions, overgeneralized associations, sleep problems, nightmares, dreams about the
precipitating event, impulsivity, difficulties in concentration, and hyperalertness.
Differential Dx of PTSD - Answer comorbid depression, panic disorder, acute stress disorder, borderline
personality disorder
Acute stress disorder occurs during or shortly after a traumatic event and has many of the same
symptoms as PTSD - Answer but lasts between 2 and 28 days.
What is considered the pharmacotherapy of choice for PTSD? - Answer Sertraline and paroxetine are
approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this purpose, and the SSRIs are the only
class of medications approved
What are the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)? - Answer Apprehension, worry,
irritability, difficulty in concentrating, insomnia, and somatic complaints are PRESENT MORE DAYS THAN
NOT FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS.
,Manifestations can include cardiac, gastrointestinal, and neurologic
_________________________is characterized by recurrent, unpredictable episodes of intense anxiety
accompanied by marked physiologic manifestations - Answer PANIC DISORDER
What is the drug of choice for managing ACUTE generalized anxiety disorder? - Answer
benzodiazepines are the anxiolytics of choice in the acute management of generalized anxiety
What are the FDA approved treatments for GAD - Answer Venlafaxine and duloxetine are FDA-
approved for the treatment of GAD in usual antidepressant doses. Initial daily dosing should start low
(37.5-75 mg for venlafaxine and 30 mg for duloxetine) and be titrated upward as needed. SSRIs, such as
paroxetine, are also used.
______________has no clear usefulness in the treatment of anxiety disorders. - Answer Bupropion (pg.
SSRIs, that are approved for the treatment of panic disorder. - Answer fluoxetine, paroxetine, and
sertraline
The SNRI that is FDA approved for treatment of panic disorder. - Answer venlafaxine
OD of benzo's are - Answer Overdosage results in respiratory depression, hypotension, shock
syndrome, coma, and death
What are the side effects of high dose benzodiazepines? - Answer sedation & disinhibition, ataxia,
dysarthria, nystagmus, and delirium.
Reversal of benzo OD (benzodiazepine antagonist) - Answer Flumazenil
Classification of low-mod benzo use - Answer somatic , psychological & perceptual
Panic disorder drug of choice - Answer SSRIs sertraline, paroxetine, and fluoxetine. In addition, the SNRI
venlafaxine is approved by the FDA
, Phobic disorder tx - Answer SSRIs & SNRIs
Both GAD, panic disorder & phobias appear to respond as well to ________________ therapy as they do
to medications. - Answer cognitive behavioral
What are some behavioral techniques for GAD and panic disorder? - Answer Relaxation,
desensitization, emotive imagery
What is a TCA that is used in combination with SSRIs for Tx of OCD - Answer clomipramine
..and in low dose adjunct to SSRIs
What is the hallmark of SOMATIC SYMPTOM DISORDERS? - Answer 1. Physical symptoms may involve
one or more organ systems and are not intentional.
2. Subjective complaints exceed objective findings
3. Correlations of symptom development and psychosocial stresses.
4. Combination of biogenetic and developmental patterns.
Name 4 SOMATIC SYMPTOM DISORDERS - Answer 1. Conversion disorder
2. Somatization disorder
3. Hypochondriasis
4. Pain disorder secondary to psychological factors
In any patient presenting with a condition judged to be somatic symptom disorder, ________________
must be considered in the diagnosis. - Answer depression
Physical symptoms of Conversion Disorder - Answer 1. Paralysis
2. Pseudoepilepsy
3. Amnesia
