ATI RN
ATI Psychiatric Exam 1 Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client who is inquiring about the use of herbal remedies in treating manifestations of mental illness. Which of the following topics should the nurse prepare to discuss with the client?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Certain herbal remedies, like St. John’s Wort, can increase serotonin levels, risking serotonin syndrome when combined with medications like SSRIs. This is a critical safety topic to discuss. Dismissing herbal remedies, discouraging their use, or claiming no interactions are inaccurate and unhelpful.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client who was recently diagnosed with an opioid use disorder. They were a student in a local community college but were recently dismissed for failing their classes. Their previous diagnoses include anxiety, Crohn's disease, and chronic back pain due to a gymnastics injury in high school. Which of the following should the nurse identify as potential underlying reasons why the client might have started using opioids?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Opioids are commonly prescribed for pain management, and individuals with chronic pain conditions, like the client’s back pain from a gymnastics injury, are at increased risk for opioid use disorder if they misuse these medications. Additionally, opioids can have anxiolytic effects, potentially used to self-medicate anxiety, a known diagnosis in this client. Other options, like sleep promotion, parental influence, or hallucinations, are less directly supported by the scenario.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of somatic symptoms disorder. The nurse should identify that the client must have been experiencing manifestations of the disorder for how long before diagnosis?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Somatic symptom disorder requires persistent, distressing physical symptoms and excessive thoughts or behaviors related to those symptoms for at least 3 months to meet diagnostic criteria. Shorter durations (1 or 4 weeks) or a longer period (6 months) do not align with the standard diagnostic timeline for this disorder.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is providing education to a client about the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Which of the following side effects should the nurse include in the teaching?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SSRIs commonly cause side effects like dry mouth and insomnia due to their effects on serotonin levels and central nervous system stimulation. Appetite changes may occur but not typically weight loss, tremors/seizures are rare, and SSRIs do not typically cause bradycardia or hypotension.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse is reviewing a client's MRI results that show cortical thinning. The nurse should identify that this finding is evident in which of the following types of dementia?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cortical thinning, particularly in the temporal and parietal lobes, is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, contributing to cognitive decline. HIV-related dementia, prion diseases, and substance use disorders may cause brain changes, but cortical thinning is most characteristic of Alzheimer’s.