HESI Mental Health
Which disorder is defined as a preoccupation with the fear of having a serious disease? a) Conversation disorder b) Somatization disorder c) Hypochondriac disorder d) Body dysmorphic disorder
c) Hypochondriac disorder Rationale Preoccupation with fears of getting or having a serious disease is called hypochondriasis. This condition usually exists for 6 months or longer, persists despite negative medical tests and reassurance, and results in social or occupational impairment.
Which term describes a display of anger that is socially unacceptable? a) Abuse b) Battery c) Aggression D) Defensiveness
c) Aggression Rationale Experiencing and demonstrating anger is a normal human reaction; however, aggression is manifest when behaviors are socially and emotionally unacceptable. Abuse is a general term that infers physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal mistreatment of another individual. Battery involves harmful or offensive touching or physical contact. Defensiveness is protection of oneself against a real or perceived threat.
Which term describes the expected outcomes for a client who is admitted for a recurrent mental health problem? a) Long-term goals b) Variances of care c) Clinical pathways d) Measurable objectives
d) Measurable objectives Rationale Expected outcomes are measurable and realistic and reflect desirable projected responses to therapeutic interventions that consider the client's present and potential capabilities.
According to Alcoholics Anonymous, which member of the health care team has the primary responsibility for the success of the therapy and rehabilitation? a) Nurse b) Client c) Counselor d) Psychiatrist
b) Client Rationale According to the philosophy of Alcoholics Anonymous, the client who has the problems with alcohol must identify her or his own need to seek help and become the primary rehabilitatior. The nurse gives support. The counselor gives direction. The psychiatrist prescribes treatments.
Which age group of hospitalized children will have the most difficulty with separation anxiety? a) 6-30 months b) 36-59 months c) 5-11 years d) 12-18 years
a) 6-30 months Rationale Infants and toddlers ages 6-30 months experience separation anxiety. Separation anxiety occurs in preschool and young school aged children, but it is less obvious and less serious than it is in the toddler.
Which leadership style is best to achieve the group members' goal to participate more fully in life by gaining insight and changing behavior? a) Democratic and guiding b) Autocratic and directing c) Laissez-faire and observing d) Passive and non confrontational
a) Democratic and guiding Rationale A democratic and guiding leader aims to facilitate and balance the group's forces; this maximizes group potential for growth and change.
The objective of a therapy group is to assist the members to change behavior so they are able to participate in life in a more satisfying manner. Which leadership style is best to achieve this objective? a) Democratic, guiding b) Hierarchical, directing c) Autocratic, controlling d) Laissez-faire, observing
a) Democratic, guiding Rationale A democratic, guiding leader assists the group to develop its maximum potential by facilitating and balancing group forces. Under this style, group members are encouraged to take responsibility for personal and group outcomes.
An older adult says, "I regret so many of the choices I've made during my life". According to Erikson's psychosocial stages of development, which developmental conflict has the client failed to accomplish? a) Ego integrity vs. despair b) Identity vs. role confusion c) Generativity vs. stagnation d) Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
a) Ego integrity vs. despair Rationale The sense of ego integrity comes from satisfaction with life and acceptance of what has been and what is. Despair reflects guilt or remorse over what might have been.
According to Erikson's psychosocial stages of development, mastery of which task increases a child's ability to cope with separation or pending separation from significant others? a) Trust b) Identity c) Initiative d) Autonomy
a) Trust Rationale Without the development of trust, the child has little confidence that the significant other will return; separation is considered abandonment by the child. Without identity, the individual will have a problem forming a social role and a sense of self; this results in identity diffusion and confusion. Without initiative, the individual will experience the development of guilt and feelings of inadequacy. Without autonomy, the individual has little self-confidence, develops a deep sense of shame and doubt, and learns to expect defeat.
Which speech pattern is a disturbed client displaying when she or he starts to repeat phrases that others have just said? a) Alogia b) Echolalia c) Neologism d) Symbolic speech
b) Echolalia Rationale Echolalia is a repetition of another person's remarks, words, or statements. It occurs when individuals are fearful of saying their own words and echo the words of others
Which communication pattern is defined as confabulation? a) the flow of thoughts is interrupted b) Imagination is used to fill in memory gaps c) speech flits from one topic to another d) statements are too loose to understand
b) Imagination is used to fill in memory gaps Rationale using imagination to fill in memory gaps is the definition of confabulation; it is a defense mechanism used by people experiencing memory deficits. interruption of the flow of thoughts is the definition of though blocking. flitting from one topic to another with no apparent meaning is the definition of flight of ideas. in associative looseness, the connections between statements are so loose that only the speaker understands them.
An older client states, "I've lived a good life. I don't want to die, but I accept it as part of life". According to Erikson's psychosocial stages of development, which developmental task has the client achieved? a) Identity b) Integrity c) Despair d) Gererativity
b) Integrity Rationale Integrity is the last stage of life, identified by the acceptance of life as lives and the inevitability of death.
Based on Erikson's psychosocial stages of development, which task must a 30 year old client work through? a) Integrity vs. despair b) Intimacy vs. isolation c) Industry vs. inferiority d) Identity vs. role confusion
b) Intimacy vs. Isolation Rationale The major task of the young adult is to develop close, sharing relationship that may include a sexual partnership; the person develops a sense of belonging and avoids isolation.
Which psychotherapeutic theory uses hypnosis, dream interpretation, and free association as methods to release repressed feelings? a) Behaviorist model b) Psychoanalytic model c) Psychobiological model d) Social-interpersonal model
b) Psychoanalytic model Rationale The psychoanalytic model studies the unconscious and uses the strategies of hypnosis, dream interpretation, and free association to encourage the release of repressed feelings.
Which individual is coping with issues concerning dependence vs. independence? a) Infant b) Toddler c) School age child d) Preschool age child
b) Toddler Rationale The toddler is learning autonomy, but because of the nature of development, there is still physical and emotional dependence on the parents. The major task during infancy is the development of trust.
The nurse advises a client with anxiety to focus on a positive scene. Which relaxation technique is the nurse using? a) Meditation b) Biofeedback c) Guided imagery d) Progressive muscle relaxation
c) Guided imagery Rationale Guided imagery is the process of using pleasant images to help reduce stress and anxiety levels. Biofeedback uses precise measurement of specific indicators to help users learn to control them. Mediation is a discipline that trains the mind to produce calm and insight into one's life. It involves concentration on a specific object or sound, such as breathing or a flickering candle, to quiet the mind. Progressive muscle relaxation is the deliberate tensing and relaxing of specific muscles to elicit the relaxation response
A client verbalizes anger toward the staff after being denied an unaccompanied day pass to leave the psychiatric facility. Which feeling is most likely to be the source of the client's anger? a) Hopelessness b) Indecisiveness c) Powerlessness d) Worthlessness
c) Powerlessness Rationale Anger is a common feeling when people do not have control over decisions that affect them. Anger could accompany hopelessness, indecisiveness, or worthlessness, but this client is clearly angry because she or he perceives that the staff is controlling her or his freedom.
Which information can be found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5)? a) Pharmaceutical options for treatment of mental disorders b) Expected client responses to therapeutic interventions c) Signs and symptoms associated with mental disorders d) Nursing interventions for various mental health disorders
c) Signs and symptoms associated with mental disorders Rationale The primary purpose of the DSM-5 is to serve as a guide in determining a client's mental health and psychiatric diagnosis. Other resources must be consulted for interventions
Which type of crisis has occurred when a sudden terrorist act causes the deaths of thousands of adults and children and negatively affects their families, friends, communities, and the nation? a) Situation-maturational b) Situational c) Maturational d) Adventitious
d) Adventitious Rationale An adventitious crisis is a crisis or disaster that is unplanned and accidental; its subcategories include natural disasters, national disasters, and crimes of violence.
Which primary purpose does the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) serve? a) Facilitates communication between researchers and clinicians b) Aids in teaching psychopathology to mental health professionals c) Increases accuracy in public health statistics through use of diagnostic codes d) Facilitates classification of mental disorders and guides the determination of diagnosis
d) Facilitates classification of mental disorders and guides the determination of diagnosis Rationale The primary purpose of the DSM-5 is to guide the clinician in identifying a client's mental health or psychiatric diagnosis. Although the DSM-5 is useful in facilitating communication and research, teaching psychopathology, and improving public health statistics, these are secondary uses for this publication
Which relationship is the most important to the formation of personality? a) Peer relationships b) Sibling relationship c) Spousal relationships d) Parent-child relationship
d) Parent-child relationship Rationale Children base their own worth on the feedback they receive from their parents. This sense of worth sets the basic ego strengths and is vital to the formation of the personality. Peer groups and sibling relationships are important; however, the parent-child relationship is the most important. Spousal relationship comes later in life, after the basic personality has been formed.
Which assessment data are the most important to obtain from a client in crisis? a) The client's work, recreational, and leisure time habits b) Any significant physical, surgical, or medication health data c) A history of emotional or mental health problems in the family d) The client's perception of the circumstances related to the crisis
d) The client's perception of the circumstances related to the crisis Rational Knowing the client's perception of the circumstances surrounding the crisis helps the nurse determine what the situation means to the client. Work and lifestyle habits, health information, and family history should be included in a later assessment.
