When assessing a patient with major depressive disorder, which symptom would most likely be observed?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Anhedonia, the inability to feel pleasure in activities that were once enjoyable, is a hallmark symptom of major depressive disorder. Patients with major depressive disorder often experience a pervasive feeling of emptiness and loss of interest in activities they used to find pleasurable. Euphoria, increased energy, and racing thoughts are more commonly associated with conditions like bipolar disorder rather than major depressive disorder.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Exposure therapy is considered the most appropriate intervention for a patient with a phobia of flying. This therapeutic approach involves gradually exposing the individual to the feared stimulus, in this case, flying, in a controlled and supportive environment. By facing the fear in a structured manner, the patient can learn to manage their anxiety response and eventually reduce their phobia-related symptoms. While cognitive restructuring may help change negative thought patterns and medication management can alleviate symptoms, exposure therapy is specifically designed to address phobias through systematic desensitization, making it the most suitable intervention in this scenario. Psychoeducation aims to provide information and support but may not directly target the phobia itself.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Flat affect and social withdrawal are characteristic of negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Negative symptoms involve disruptions to normal emotions and behaviors, such as reduced emotional expression (flat affect) and social withdrawal. These symptoms reflect a decrease or absence of normal functions. Positive symptoms, on the other hand, involve the presence of abnormal behaviors or experiences, such as hallucinations and delusions, which are added to a person's experiences. Cognitive symptoms relate to difficulties with thinking, memory, and processing information, impacting cognition. Mood symptoms involve disturbances in mood regulation, which is distinct from the flat affect seen in negative symptoms.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Tyramine-rich foods. Patients prescribed MAOIs should avoid tyramine-rich foods to prevent hypertensive crises. Tyramine-rich foods can interact with MAOIs, leading to a sudden and dangerous increase in blood pressure. Examples of tyramine-rich foods include aged cheeses, cured meats, pickled or fermented foods, and certain beverages like beer and wine. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they are not associated with causing hypertensive crises when taken with MAOIs.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Serotonin syndrome is characterized by a triad of symptoms: hypertension, tachycardia, and hyperthermia. Therefore, the correct answer is B. Hypotension, bradycardia, and hypothermia (choice A) are not typical findings in serotonin syndrome. Hypotension, tachycardia, and hypothermia (choice C) are also not consistent with serotonin syndrome. Hypertension, bradycardia, and hyperthermia (choice D) do not align with the characteristic symptoms of serotonin syndrome. Recognizing the key symptoms of serotonin syndrome is crucial for prompt identification and intervention to prevent serious complications.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The most appropriate nursing intervention when a patient with schizophrenia is experiencing auditory hallucinations is to ask the patient to describe the content of the hallucinations. This intervention helps assess the risk associated with the hallucinations and provides valuable insight into the patient's condition, aiding in developing an effective care plan. Encouraging the patient to ignore the voices (Choice A) may not address the underlying issues or risks associated with the hallucinations. Providing a structured and safe environment (Choice B) is important but does not directly address the hallucinations. Engaging the patient in a debate about the reality of the voices (Choice C) may worsen the situation by invalidating the patient's experiences.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: For a patient with agoraphobia, the priority intervention should be gradual exposure to feared situations. This approach helps the patient confront and gradually overcome their fear of leaving home, a common challenge in agoraphobia. By exposing the patient to feared situations in a step-by-step manner, they can learn to manage their anxiety and increase their confidence in leaving home. Teaching relaxation techniques (Choice A) can be beneficial but may not address the core issue of avoidance behavior. Encouraging the patient to attend social gatherings (Choice C) can be overwhelming and counterproductive at the initial stage of treatment. Providing education about the disorder (Choice D) is important but should come after addressing the immediate need for exposure therapy.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: When a patient with schizophrenia is prescribed clozapine, regular monitoring for agranulocytosis is essential. Agranulocytosis is a severe reduction in white blood cells that can be life-threatening. Monitoring white blood cell counts is crucial to detect this side effect early and prevent serious complications. Weight loss (Choice A) is not a common side effect of clozapine. Hypertension (Choice B) and hyperthyroidism (Choice D) are also not typically associated with clozapine use, making them incorrect choices for regular monitoring.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Delusions are considered a positive symptom of schizophrenia. Positive symptoms represent an excess or distortion of normal functions, such as hallucinations, delusions, or disorganized speech or behavior. In contrast, negative symptoms involve a decrease or absence of normal functions, like alogia (poverty of speech), anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure), and flat affect (reduced expression of emotions). Therefore, in the context of schizophrenia, delusions fall under the category of positive symptoms.