A client is experiencing persistent feelings of sadness, guilt, and worthlessness. They also report significant weight loss and insomnia. The nurse suspects the client may have:
Bipolar disorder.
An adjustment disorder.
Major depressive disorder (MDD).
A normal response to stress.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
Bipolar disorder involves distinct periods of both elevated mood (mania or hypomania) and depressive episodes. The scenario describes persistent feelings of sadness, guilt, worthlessness, weight loss, and insomnia, which are characteristic symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) but not necessarily indicative of bipolar disorder.
Choice B rationale:
An adjustment disorder is characterized by emotional or behavioral symptoms that arise within three months of experiencing a stressor (e.g., a major life change or event). The persistent feelings of sadness, guilt, worthlessness, weight loss, and insomnia described in the scenario are beyond the typical time frame for an adjustment disorder.
Choice C rationale:
The correct answer. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, changes in weight or appetite, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation or retardation, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, difficulty concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. The client's symptoms align closely with the diagnostic criteria for MDD.
Choice D rationale:
A normal response to stress usually involves transient feelings of sadness or anxiety in response to a stressor. However, the client's symptoms of persistent feelings of sadness, guilt, worthlessness, weight loss, and insomnia are indicative of a more serious and prolonged condition like major depressive disorder (MDD).
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Pharmacological interventions involve the use of medications to treat conditions like Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). This does not involve stimulating the brain electrically or magnetically. While antidepressant medications can have an impact on neuronal activity and neuroplasticity, they are not classified as brain stimulation therapies.
Choice B rationale:
This is the correct answer. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment modality that involves passing an electrical current through the brain to induce a controlled seizure. This has been found to be effective in cases of severe depression where other treatments have not worked. Other somatic therapies might include repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), both of which involve modulating brain activity through electrical or magnetic means.
Choice C rationale:
Psychotherapeutic interventions involve talking therapies aimed at addressing psychological and emotional issues. These therapies do not directly involve electrical or magnetic stimulation of the brain. While they can certainly lead to changes in neuronal activity and neuroplasticity, they are not the primary modalities for brain stimulation.
Choice D rationale:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a specific type of psychotherapeutic intervention that focuses on changing thought patterns and behaviors. While CBT can lead to changes in brain activity and neuroplasticity, it does not involve direct brain stimulation through electrical or magnetic means like ECT or rTMS.
Correct Answer is ["A","C","E"]
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Social support refers to the network of family, friends, and community that provide emotional and practical assistance. Depression can be influenced by inadequate social support, as having a strong support system can buffer against the development and exacerbation of depressive symptoms.
Choice B rationale:
Personalization involves attributing external events to oneself, often in a negative manner. While this cognitive distortion is relevant to depression, it is not mentioned in the question stem and does not directly relate to cognitive processes influenced by depression.
Choice C rationale:
Cognitive distortions are irrational and negative thought patterns that are common in depression. These distortions contribute to the maintenance of depressive symptoms. Examples include all-or-nothing thinking, overgeneralization, and catastrophizing.
Choice D rationale:
Catastrophizing involves magnifying the negative significance of events. While it can contribute to depressive thought patterns, it is not as central to cognitive processes influenced by depression as cognitive distortions are.
Choice E rationale:
Interpersonal relationships are affected by depression and can also contribute to its development. The question does not focus on the effects of depression on relationships, but rather on the factors that can influence or be influenced by depression.
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