ATI RN
Psychobiological Disorder Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse would anticipate that treatment for a patient with memory difficulties might include medications designed to
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because memory difficulties are often associated with a decrease in acetylcholine levels in the brain. Medications that prevent the destruction of acetylcholine can help improve memory function. Inhibiting GABA (A) would not be appropriate as it may worsen memory problems. Reducing serotonin metabolism (C) and increasing dopamine activity (D) are not directly related to memory function and would not address the underlying cause of memory difficulties. Therefore, choice B is the most appropriate treatment option.
Question 2 of 5
A patient diagnosed with bipolar disorder displays aggressiveness, agitation, talkativeness, and irritability. The nurse expects the health care provider to prescribe a medication from which group?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Mood stabilizers. In bipolar disorder, characterized by manic and depressive episodes, mood stabilizers like lithium or anticonvulsants are essential to manage symptoms like aggressiveness and irritability. Psychostimulants (A) can exacerbate mania, anticholinergics (C) are not indicated for bipolar disorder, and antidepressants (D) can trigger manic episodes. Mood stabilizers help maintain emotional balance and prevent mood swings, making them the most appropriate choice in this scenario.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse can anticipate anticholinergic side effects are likely when a patient takes
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: imipramine. Imipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant with strong anticholinergic properties, leading to side effects such as dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, and urinary retention. These side effects are common with medications that block the action of acetylcholine in the body. Lithium (A) is used for mood stabilization in bipolar disorder and does not typically cause anticholinergic side effects. Buspirone (B) is an anxiolytic medication that does not have significant anticholinergic effects. Risperidone (D) is an atypical antipsychotic that may cause some anticholinergic side effects but is not as strongly associated with these effects as imipramine.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse caring for a patient taking a SSRI will develop outcome criteria related to
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The nurse should develop outcome criteria related to improvement in depression because SSRIs are primarily used to treat depression by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain. Monitoring improvement in depression is crucial to assess the effectiveness of the medication. Choice A (coherent thought processes) is not specific to SSRIs and may not directly correlate with the medication's therapeutic effects. Choice C (reduced levels of motor activity) is not a common side effect of SSRIs and is not typically monitored as an outcome criterion. Choice D (decreased extrapyramidal symptoms) is irrelevant as SSRIs do not target extrapyramidal symptoms, which are associated with antipsychotic medications.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse cares for four patients who are receiving clozapine, lithium, fluoxetine, and venlafaxine, respectively. With which patient should the nurse be most alert for problems associated with fluid and electrolyte imbalance? The patient receiving
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: lithium. Lithium is known to cause electrolyte imbalances, particularly affecting sodium levels. The nurse should monitor for signs of hyponatremia or hypernatremia. Clozapine (B) is more associated with metabolic side effects. Fluoxetine (C) and venlafaxine (D) are less likely to cause significant fluid and electrolyte imbalances compared to lithium. Sodium monitoring is crucial with lithium to prevent serious complications.