ATI LPN
Test Bank for Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice
Chapter 8 : Biologic Foundations of Psychiatric Nursing Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is developing a plan of care for a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia. The nurse integrates knowledge of this disorder, identifying which neurotransmitter as being primarily involved?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Schizophrenia is primarily associated with dopamine dysregulation, particularly in the mesolimbic pathway, contributing to symptoms like hallucinations. Acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and serotonin play roles in other disorders but are not primary in schizophrenia.
Question 2 of 5
A group of students are reviewing information about neurotransmitter subtypes. The group demonstrates understanding of the information when they identify which neurotransmitter as having muscarinic and nicotinic receptors?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Acetylcholine has muscarinic and nicotinic receptors, which mediate its effects in the nervous system. Serotonin, GABA, and dopamine have different receptor subtypes (e.g., 5-HT, GABA-A, D1/D2), not muscarinic or nicotinic.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is involved in gathering information about the inheritance of mental disorders using population genetics. Which of the following would the nurse be least likely to be evaluating?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Population genetics studies inheritance patterns using concordance rates, first-degree relative occurrences, and adoption studies to isolate genetic vs. environmental factors. Risk factor analysis, while relevant to epidemiology, is less specific to genetic inheritance studies.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is reading a journal article about psychoneuroimmunology. Which information would the nurse most likely find? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: B,D,E
Rationale: Psychoneuroimmunology studies interactions between the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis disruption (
B), hypothalamic damage leading to immune dysfunction (
D), and circadian rhythm interruptions (E) are relevant, as they link stress and brain function to immune responses. Neurotoxins (
A) are less central, and natural killer cells are not static (
C) but increase with stress.
Question 5 of 5
A patient is scheduled for a challenge test. Which of the following would the nurse include when explaining this test to the patient?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A challenge test involves administering a substance (e.g., a drug) to provoke symptoms for diagnostic purposes. Electrodes and electrical impulses relate to EEGs, and strobe lights are used in evoked potential tests, not challenge tests.