Learning Activity 3 Flashcards
The major distinction between fear and anxiety is that fear:
A) is a universal experience; anxiety is neurotic.
B) enables constructive action; anxiety is dysfunctional.
C) is a psychological experience; anxiety is a physiological experience.
D) is a response to a specific danger; anxiety is a response to an unknown danger.
D) is a response to a specific danger; anxiety is a response to an unknown danger.
Fear is a response to an objective danger; anxiety is a response to a subjective danger.
The initial nursing action for a newly admitted anxious client is to
A) assess the client’s use of defense mechanisms.
B) assess the client’s level of anxiety.
C) limit environmental stimuli.
D) provide antianxiety medication.
B) assess the client’s level of anxiety.
The priority nursing action is the assessment of the client’s anxiety level.
Selective inattention is first noted when experiencing anxiety that is: A) mild. B) moderate. C) severe. D) panic.
B) moderate.
When moderate anxiety is present the individual’s perceptual field is reduced and the client is not able to see the entire picture of events.
Delusionary thinking is a characteristic of: A) chronic anxiety. B) acute anxiety. C) severe anxiety. D) panic level anxiety.
D) panic level anxiety.
Panic level anxiety is the most extreme level and results in markedly disturbed thinking.
Generally, ego defense mechanisms:
A) often involve some degree of self-deception.
B) are rarely used by mentally healthy people.
C) seldom make the person more comfortable.
D) are usually effective in resolving conflicts.
A) often involve some degree of self-deception.
Most ego defense mechanisms, with the exception of the mature defenses, alter the individual’s perception of reality to produce varying degrees of self-deception.
A 20-year-old was sexually molested at age10 but he can no longer remember the incident. The ego defense mechanism in use is A) projection. B) repression. C) displacement. D) reaction formation.
B) repression.
Repression is a defense mechanism that excludes unwanted or unpleasant experiences, emotions, or ideas from conscious awareness.
The defense mechanisms that can only be used in healthy ways are A) suppression and humor. B) altruism and sublimation. C) idealization and splitting. D) reaction formation and denial.
B) altruism and sublimation.
These defenses are termed mature defenses. They cannot be used in unhealthy ways. Altruism results in resolving emotional conflicts by meeting the needs of others, and sublimation substitutes socially acceptable activity for unacceptable impulses.
Which behavior would be characteristic of an individual who is displacing anger? A) Lying B) Stealing C) Slapping D) Procrastinating
D) Procrastinating
A passive-aggressive person deals with emotional conflict by indirectly and unassertively expressing aggression toward others. Procrastination is an expression of resistance.
A person who recently gave up smoking and now talks constantly about how smoking fouls the air, causes cancer, "burns" money that could be better spent to feed the poor, and so forth is using A) projection. B) rationalization. C) reaction formation. D) undoing.
C) reaction formation.
Reaction formation keeps unacceptable feelings or behaviors out of awareness by developing the opposite behavior or emotion.
A man keeps his wife's clothing in the closet and bureau of his bedroom although she has been dead for 3 years. This behavior suggests the use of A) altruism. B) denial. C) undoing. D) suppression.
B) denial.
Denial involves escaping unpleasant reality by ignoring its existence.
What can be said about the age of onset of most anxiety disorders? Onset is A) before age 20 years. B) before age 40 years. C) after age 40 years. D) scattered throughout the lifespan.
B) before age 40 years.
Epidemiology reports tell us the onset of most anxiety disorders is before age 40 years.
What can be said about the comorbidity of anxiety disorders?
A) Anxiety disorders exist alone.
B) A second anxiety disorder may coexist with the first.
C) Anxiety disorders virtually never coexist with mood disorders.
D) Substance abuse disorders rarely coexist with anxiety disorders.
B) A second anxiety disorder may coexist with the first.
In many instances where one anxiety disorder is present, a second one coexists. Clinicians and researchers have clearly shown that anxiety disorders frequently co-occur with other psychiatric problems. Major depression often co-occurs and produces a greater impairment with poorer response to treatment.
Studies of clients with posttraumatic stress disorder suggest that the stress response of which of the following is considered abnormal?
A) Brainstem
B) Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system
C) Frontal lobe
D) Limbic system
B) Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system
Studies of clients with posttraumatic stress disorder suggest that the stress response of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system is abnormal.
An obsession is defined as
A) thinking of an action and immediately taking the action.
B) a recurrent, persistent thought or impulse.
C) an intense irrational fear of an object or situation.
D) a recurrent behavior performed in the same manner.
B) a recurrent, persistent thought or impulse.
Obsessions are thoughts, impulses, or images that persist and recur so that they cannot be dismissed from the mind.
A symptom associated with panic attacks is A) obsessions. B) apathy. C) fever D) fear of impending doom.
D) fear of impending doom.
The feelings of terror present during a panic attack are so severe that normal function is suspended, the perceptual field is severely limited, and misinterpretation of reality may occur.
Working with a client to help the client view an occurrence in a more positive light is called A) flooding. B) desensitization. C) response prevention. D) cognitive restructuring.
D) cognitive restructuring.
The purpose of cognitive restructuring is to change the individual’s negative view of an event or situation to a view that remains consistent with the facts but that is more positive.
The primary purpose of performing a physical examination before beginning treatment for any anxiety disorder is
A) legal protection.
B) to establish nursing diagnoses of priority.
C) to provide information about client psychosocial background.
D) to determine if the anxiety is of primary or secondary origin.
D) to determine if the anxiety is of primary or secondary origin.
The symptoms of anxiety can be caused by a number of physical disorders or are said to be caused by an underlying physical disorder. The treatment for secondary anxiety is treatment of the underlying cause.
An important question to ask in the assessment of a client with anxiety disorder is
A) “How often do you hear voices?”
B) “Have you ever considered suicide?”
C) “How long has your memory been bad?”
D) “Do your thoughts always seem jumbled?”
B) “Have you ever considered suicide?”
The presence of anxiety may cause an individual to consider suicide as a means of finding comfort and peace. Suicide assessment is appropriate to perform with any client with higher levels of anxiety.
A possible outcome criteria for a client with anxiety disorder is
A) Client demonstrates effective coping strategies.
B) Client reports reduced hallucinations.
C) Client reports feelings of tension and fatigue.
D) Client demonstrates persistent avoidance behaviors.
A) Client demonstrates effective coping strategies.
Option 1 is the only desirable outcome listed.
K has been getting mediocre grades in school. When she applies for admission at the upper division level, she is rejected on the basis of inadequate grades. Thereafter, K studies harder and receives better grades. K's behavioral change is rooted in A) A rude awakening B) normal anxiety C) trait anxiety D) alturism
B) normal anxiety
Normal anxiety is a healthy life force needed to carry out the tasks of living and striving toward goals. It prompts constructive actions.
D is going to be interviewed for a promotional position. As he enters the interview room he feels as though all his senses are very sharp. He is mildly tense but eager to begin the interview. D can be assessed as showing A) denial B) compensation C) normal anxiety D) selective inattention
C) normal anxiety
Normal anxiety is a healthy life force needed to carry out the tasks of living and striving toward goals. It prompts constructive actions.
A client approaches a nurse and blurts "You have got to help me! Something terrible is happening. I am falling apart. I can't think. My heart is pounding and my head is throbbing." The nurse should assess the client's level of anxiety as A) mild B) moderate C) severe D) Panic
C) severe
Severe anxiety is characterized by feelings of falling apart and impending doom, impaired cognition, and severe somatic symptoms such as headache and pounding heart.
A client is displaying symptomology reflective of a panic attack. In order to help the client regain control the nurse responds:
A) “you need to calm yourself”
B) “what is that you would like me to do to help you?”
C) “can you tell me what you were feeling just before your attack?”
D) “i will get you some medication to help calm you”
C) “can you tell me what you were feeling just before your attack?”.
A response that helps the client identify the precipitant stressor is most therapeutic.
A client is demonstrating a moderate level of anxiety. She tells the nurse “I am so anxious that I could fly! I do not know what to do.” A helpful response for the nurse to make would be
A) “what things have you done in the past that helped you feel more comfortable?”
B) “let’s try to focus on that adorable little granddaughter of yours”
C) “why don’t you sit down over there and work on that jigsaw puzzle”
D) “try not to think about the feelings and sensations you’re experiencing”
A) “what things have you done in the past that helped you feel more comfortable?”
Because the client is not able to think through the problem and arrive at an action that would lower anxiety, the nurse can assist by asking what has worked in the past. Often what has been helpful in the past can be used again.
