A nurse is conducting a class on stress.
Which of the following would the nurse include as an example of acute stress?

Choice A rationale
This statement is not accurate. Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is characterized by periods of new symptoms or relapses that develop over days or weeks and usually improve partially or completely. These episodes are followed by periods of remission, where the disease does not progress. Therefore, RRMS does not cause a steady and gradual decline in function.
Choice B rationale
This is the correct answer. Stress and extreme fatigue can trigger a relapse in RRMS1. Therefore, it is important for patients to avoid these triggers to manage their symptoms effectively.
Choice C rationale
This statement is incorrect. RRMS is the most common disease course at the time of diagnosis. It is not the least common type of multiple sclerosis.
Choice D rationale
This statement is not accurate. Medications for RRMS, known as disease-modifying treatments (DMT), are designed to reduce the frequency and severity of relapses. They are not intended to be taken only during times of relapse, but rather on an ongoing basis to manage the disease.

Choice A rationale
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a stress-related disorder that can occur after a person experiences a traumatic event. Symptoms can include flashbacks of the traumatic event, which the patient reports experiencing.
Choice B rationale
Episodic acute stress is a type of stress that occurs in response to specific situations or events. It does not typically involve flashbacks of a traumatic event.
Choice C rationale
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. While stress can exacerbate symptoms of IBS, it is not a stress-related disorder in the sense of being a psychological response to stress.
Choice D rationale
Acute stress disorder (ASD) is a stress-related disorder that can occur in response to a traumatic event. However, ASD symptoms occur immediately after the traumatic event and typically resolve within a month. Since the patient reports experiencing flashbacks of a traumatic event that occurred a year ago, ASD is not the correct answer.