mental health

Question 1

Generalized anxiety disorder:

Answer 1

Teach clients with GAD to recognize symptoms of anxiety, such as
palpitations, sweating, and agitation, and to use relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing,
guided imagery, or meditation, to prevent anxiety from escalating.

Question 2

Severe anxiety and panic:

Answer 2

For clients
with severe to panic levels of anxiety, the
nurse should stay with the client, reduce
environmental stimuli, and communicate using
a calm voice and simple statements.

Question 3

Antianxiety medications:

Answer 3

SSRIs and buspirone
are anxiolytic medications used for long-term
management of chronic anxiety, such as GAD.

Question 4

Benzodiazepines lam and pam

Answer 4

are fast-acting anxiolytics used
for short-term relief of acute anxiety, such as
during panic attacks.

Question 5

Phobias:

Answer 5

When caring for a client with a phobia,
encourage exposure therapy, which gradually
introduces the client to their fear, decreasing the
anxiety response over time.

Question 6

Findings may include: OCD

Answer 6

Extreme anxiety
Intrusive thoughts
Uncontrollable rituals (hand-washing,
checking, counting)
Hoarding behaviors
Distorted body image
Dysfunctional body-focused repetitive behaviors
(skin picking, hair pulling)

Question 7

Nursing interventions

Answer 7

Do not interrupt compulsions unless a safety
concern is present, as interruptions can cause
severe anxiety or panic.
Assist client in gradually delaying or reducing time
spent on compulsions.
Set agreed-upon time limits on compulsions,
which are then slowly reduced.
Teach relaxation techniques to help client
manage anxiety

Question 8

Selective
serotonin
reuptake
inhibitors:
serotonin levels
sertraline
fluoxetine
fluvoxamine

Answer 8

First-line choice for long-
term management of

chronic anxiety and OCD
Require several weeks to
become effective
Monitor for serotonin
syndrome.

Question 8

OCD: Administer medications as prescribed
(typically SSRIs).

Answer 8

Assist clients with OCD to gradually delay or decrease compulsions but do not interrupt
compulsions, as this can cause intense anxiety.

Question 9

Buspirone:
Affects serotonin
receptors

Answer 9

Requires several weeks to
become effective
Monitor for serotonin
syndrome.

Question 10

Benzodiazepines:
GABA effects
alprazolam
diazepam

Answer 10

Work quickly to decrease anxiety
Used for short-term relief
of acute anxiety (panic
attacks)
increase risk for dependence with
long-term use
Cause CNS depression