A nurse is collecting data from a client who has hypomania.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
Psychomotor retardation.
Decreased self-esteem.
Euphoria.
Hallucinations.
Hallucinations.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
Psychomotor retardation is a characteristic of depression, not hypomania. In fact, individuals with hypomania typically exhibit psychomotor agitation, which is characterized by increased energy and activity levels.
Psychomotor retardation often manifests as slowed movements, speech, and thought processes. It can significantly impact an individual's ability to perform daily tasks and engage in social interactions.
While psychomotor retardation can occur in various mental health conditions, it is not typically associated with hypomania.
Choice B rationale:
Decreased self-esteem is also a characteristic of depression, not hypomania. Individuals with hypomania typically experience inflated self-esteem and grandiosity.
They may overestimate their abilities, make unrealistic plans, or engage in risky behaviors. This inflated sense of self-worth is often a hallmark feature of hypomania and can contribute to impaired judgment and decision-making.
Choice C rationale:
Euphoria is a hallmark symptom of hypomania. It is characterized by an elevated, expansive, or irritable mood that is persistent and noticeable to others.
Individuals with euphoria often feel excessively happy, cheerful, or optimistic. They may have increased energy, decreased need for sleep, and a heightened sense of well-being.
They may also be more talkative, outgoing, and engage in pleasurable activities more often.
This elevated mood is a core feature of hypomania and is often accompanied by other characteristic symptoms, such as increased activity levels, racing thoughts, and impulsivity.
Choice D rationale:
Hallucinations are not a typical feature of hypomania. They are more commonly associated with psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia.
Hallucinations involve perceiving things that are not real, such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not there.
While hallucinations can occur in some individuals with hypomania, they are not a defining feature of the condition
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Initiating one-to-one nursing observation is the most crucial and immediate action the nurse should take in this scenario. Here's a detailed explanation:
Prioritizes Safety: The client has a recent history of a suicide attempt, indicating a high risk for self-harm. One-to-one observation ensures continuous monitoring, enabling prompt intervention if the client engages in any self-injurious behaviors or attempts. It prioritizes the client's safety and prevents further harm.
Addresses Acute Risk: The client's mental health conditions, including depression, substance abuse, and anorexia nervosa, create a complex and acute risk profile. One-to-one observation allows for close assessment of the client's mental state, behaviors, and potential triggers, enabling early identification of any escalating risk and timely implementation of appropriate interventions.
Provides Support and Stabilization: The presence of a dedicated nurse provides emotional support, reassurance, and a sense of security for the client during this vulnerable period. It can help reduce anxiety and distress, promote engagement in treatment, and facilitate stabilization.
Gathers Essential Information: While observing the client, the nurse can gather valuable information about their behavior patterns, coping mechanisms, communication style, and potential triggers. This information is essential for developing a comprehensive and individualized treatment plan.
Facilitates Trust and Rapport: One-to-one observation provides an opportunity for the nurse to establish a therapeutic relationship with the client, build trust, and promote open communication. This foundation is crucial for effective assessment, intervention, and ongoing care
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Pseudoparkinsonism is an extrapyramidal side effect (EPSE) of antipsychotic medications, particularly first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) like haloperidol, that closely resembles the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. It's characterized by:
Stooped posture: A forward-leaning posture, often with rounded shoulders and a head that is bent forward.
Shuffling gait: Small, slow steps with reduced arm swing, often described as a "shuffling" or "dragging" walk.
Rigidity: Increased muscle stiffness throughout the body, leading to resistance to movement and a feeling of tightness.
Bradykinesia: Slowness of movement, both in initiating and completing actions.
Tremor: Involuntary shaking, often most noticeable in the hands, but can also affect the arms, legs, head, or jaw.
Masked facies: A decreased facial expression, often described as a "flat" or "expressionless" face.
Mechanism of pseudoparkinsonism:
Haloperidol primarily blocks dopamine D2 receptors in the nigrostriatal pathway of the brain.
Dopamine plays a crucial role in motor control, and its blockade in this pathway leads to a disruption in the balance of dopamine and acetylcholine, another neurotransmitter involved in movement.
This imbalance results in the characteristic symptoms of pseudoparkinsonism.
Risk factors for pseudoparkinsonism:
Older age
Female sex
Higher doses of antipsychotic medication
Prolonged use of antipsychotic medication
History of Parkinson's disease or other movement disorders
Presence of other EPSEs
Management of pseudoparkinsonism:
Dose reduction: If possible, the dose of the antipsychotic medication may be reduced.
Switching to a different antipsychotic: Some antipsychotics, such as second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), have a lower risk of causing EPSEs.
Anticholinergic medications: These medications can help to counteract the effects of dopamine blockade on the acetylcholine system, but they can have their own side effects, such as dry mouth, constipation, and urinary retention.
Amantadine: This medication can also be used to treat pseudoparkinsonism, but it has the potential to cause side effects such as insomnia, anxiety, and livedo reticularis (a mottled skin rash).
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