A patient diagnosed with depression confidently tells the nurse, "I’ve been supplementing my paroxetine with St. John’s wort. It has helped a great deal.” What is the nurse’s priority action?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Educate the patient about the risks of selective serotonin syndrome. St. John's wort is known to interact with paroxetine, potentially leading to serotonin syndrome. This is a serious condition that can be life-threatening. The nurse's priority is to ensure the patient is aware of this risk to prevent any harm. Choice A is incorrect because assessing changes in depression levels is important but not the priority in this situation. Choice B is incorrect as it is unrelated to the potential interaction between St. John's wort and paroxetine. Choice D is incorrect as adding valerian without addressing the potential interaction with St. John's wort can be harmful.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Frontal lobe. The frontal lobe is responsible for higher-level executive functions like expressive language and voluntary movement. It houses the prefrontal cortex, crucial for decision-making and problem-solving. The other choices are incorrect because: A: The occipital lobe is primarily responsible for visual processing. B: The parietal lobe is involved in processing sensory information and spatial awareness. D: The temporal lobe plays a role in auditory processing and memory functions.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: As an intermediate metabolizer, the patient may have variations in drug metabolism, leading to altered drug levels and potentially increased risk for drug-drug interactions. This is due to slower or inefficient metabolism of certain medications, which can result in drug accumulation and adverse effects when combined with other drugs. Therefore, the correct answer is B. The other choices are incorrect because: A: Incorrect - Intermediate metabolizers may still require medication dosage adjustments. C: Incorrect - Providers may need to decrease, not increase, drug dosages for intermediate metabolizers. D: Incorrect - Intermediate metabolizers may experience subtherapeutic effects due to variability in drug metabolism.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because the patient's inability to afford medication poses a significant ethical issue in mental health. This impacts the patient's access to necessary treatment and may lead to disparities in care. Choice B focuses on autonomy, which is important but not specifically related to ethical issues. Choice C pertains to cultural competence, which is important but not inherently an ethical issue. Choice D involves patient preferences in treatment planning, which is valuable but not directly related to ethical concerns surrounding access to medication.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Serotonin. SSRIs, SNRIs, and tricyclic antidepressants work by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, leading to increased levels of this neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft. This increase in serotonin helps regulate mood and emotions, making it an effective treatment for depression. Dopamine, GABA, and Glutamate are not primarily affected by these antidepressants, making them incorrect choices.