ATI RN
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
What is the most significant consequence of the excessive use of defense mechanisms?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The most significant consequence of the excessive use of defense mechanisms is the limitation of problem-solving skills. When individuals rely excessively on defense mechanisms to cope with stress or anxiety, they may avoid addressing underlying issues or seeking healthier coping strategies. This can lead to maladaptive behaviors, hindering their ability to effectively deal with reality, maintain healthy relationships, or perform well in various aspects of life. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because the suppression of problem-solving skills, intense experience of emotions, and enhancement of learning and growth are not the primary consequences of excessive use of defense mechanisms.
Question 2 of 5
Which should the healthcare provider recognize as a DSM-5 disorder?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The DSM-5 categorizes mental health disorders for diagnostic purposes. Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the disorders listed in the DSM-5, characterized by persistent and excessive worry about various events or activities. This disorder falls under the category of anxiety disorders, which also include panic disorder, phobias, and others. Choices A, C, and D are not DSM-5 disorders. Obesity and hypertension are medical conditions, while grief, though a significant emotional response, is not classified as a mental health disorder in the DSM-5.
Question 3 of 5
A patient is being educated about the difference between mental health and mental illness. Which statement by the patient reflects an accurate understanding of mental health?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Mental health is defined as the successful adaptation to stressors in the internal and external environment. This includes having thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are age-appropriate and congruent with cultural and societal norms. Mental health is not solely the absence of stressors or incongruence between thoughts, feelings, and behavior, nor is it a specific diagnostic category in the DSM-5. Choice A is incorrect because mental health is not just the absence of stressors but the ability to adapt to them. Choice C is wrong as mental health involves congruence, not incongruence, between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Choice D is inaccurate as mental health is a broader concept than a specific diagnostic category in the DSM-5.
Question 4 of 5
Based on what criteria do most cultures label behavior as mental illness?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Incomprehensibility and cultural relativity. Incomprehensibility and cultural relativity are the main criteria used across cultures to define behavior as mental illness. When behavior is incomprehensible and significantly deviates from cultural norms, it is more likely to be classified as a mental illness. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. Strength of character, ethics, goal directedness, high energy, creativity, and good coping skills are typically associated with positive mental health rather than mental illness.
Question 5 of 5
Which should the individual recognize as an example of the defense mechanism of repression?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Repression is a defense mechanism where distressing thoughts, feelings, or memories are pushed out of conscious awareness to protect the individual from emotional pain. In this scenario, the woman's inability to recall the traumatic event of being raped at the age of 12 indicates repression in action. Choices A, B, and C do not represent repression. Choice A reflects procrastination, choice B suggests denial, and choice C indicates sublimation as the man is channeling his unhappiness into a constructive pursuit.