ATI LPN
Test Bank for Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice
Chapter 40 : Caring for Persons With Co-occurring Mental Disorders Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is teaching a group of hospitalized clients who have co-occurring disorders involving cognitive disorders and alcoholism about the relapse cycle. Which statement would the nurse most likely include during this teaching session?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Option A accurately describes the relapse cycle in co-occurring disorders, where clients use alcohol to self-medicate psychiatric symptoms, leading to symptom recurrence, rehospitalization, and repeated cycles due to medication non-adherence. Option B incorrectly ties alcoholism directly to hallucinations, option C oversimplifies the relationship, and option D misattributes psychiatric symptoms to alcohol withdrawal.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is interviewing a client who has a co-occurring diagnosis. The client is trying to explain why it is so easy to start drinking again even though hospitalization and prescribed medications can eventually control his mental problems. Which statement by the client would the nurse interpret as reflecting the client?s beliefs?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The client?s statement in option B reflects a common belief in co-occurring disorders, where substance use provides an escape or euphoria that medications do not, driving relapse. Option A focuses on cost, option C on side effects, and option D on avoiding responsibility, all less central to the emotional pull of substance use.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is working as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team for a client diagnosed with a mental illness and substance abuse disorder. As part of the recovery process, which of the following would be most important for the team to do initially?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Providing immediate help with a situational crisis (
D) builds trust, a critical first step for engaging clients with co-occurring disorders in treatment. Short-term hospitalizations (
A) and establishing authority (
B) are less effective initially, and heavy confrontation (
C) is counterproductive and inappropriate.
Question 4 of 5
A client has a co-occurring diagnosis of alcoholism and bipolar disorder. He was brought to the emergency department by two policemen who had broken up a fight that the client had gotten into in a neighborhood bar. The client is intrusive and verbose about having diplomatic immunity and his pressing need to tour the bistate area to promote his bid for the presidency. The client has had multiple admissions to the hospital?s psychiatric unit, and he has almost always experienced alcohol withdrawal syndrome immediately after his previous admissions. Which of the following would be a priority for this client?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Monitoring for alcohol withdrawal syndrome (
B) is the priority due to its potential for life-threatening complications, given the client?s history. Administering mood stabilizers (
A) is important but secondary to immediate safety. Suggesting behavioral changes (
C) is ineffective during acute mania, and outpatient referral (
D) is premature during an acute crisis.
Question 5 of 5
The parents of a client with schizophrenia who also abuses alcohol asks the nurse, 'What can we do to help our son from relapsing after he is discharged from the hospital?' Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Reporting side effects (
D) helps ensure medication adherence, a key factor in preventing relapse in schizophrenia and alcohol abuse, as side effects often lead to discontinuation. Option A dismisses family involvement, option B is overly restrictive, and option C is specific to AA but less critical than medication management.