Question 1

Which condition is considered progressive rather than reversible?
A) Delirium
B) Dementia
C) Depression
D) Anxiety

Accepted Answer

Dementia is considered progressive and irreversible. Delirium has the potential for reversal. Depression and anxiety are reversible.

Question 2

You are interviewing a 20-year-old patient with a new-onset psychotic disorder. The patient is apathetic and has disturbed thoughts and language patterns. The nurse recognizes this behavior pattern as consistent with a diagnosis of:
A) depression.
B) autistic disorder.
C) mania.
D) schizophrenia.

Accepted Answer

Schizophrenia manifests as a psychotic disorder of early adult onset, with disturbances in language and speech, emotions and social withdrawal, and apathy. Depression and mania do not have the language or speech component. Autistic disorders are not psychotic disorders, and they usually begin before 3 years of age.

Question 3

The examiner should be concerned about neurologic competence if a social smile cannot be elicited by the time a child is _________ old.

Accepted Answer

A social smile is expected in the 2- to 3-month-old infant. If it is difficult or impossible to elicit a social smile by 3 months, the infant may not be neurologically intact.

Question 4

Under most conditions, adult patients should be able to repeat a series of _____________ numbers.

Accepted Answer

Most adults should be able to immediately recall a series of five to eight numbers forward and a series of four to six numbers backward.

Question 5

Mrs. Griffiths, a 28-year-old patient, presents to your office to discuss her attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Which statement is true in regard to ADHD?
A) It occurs before 7 years of age.
B) It is usually related to mental retardation.
C) It is usually related to dementia.
D) It is manifested by prolonged periods of catatonic behavior.

Accepted Answer

ADHD occurs before 7 years of age. ADHD is not related to mental retardation, dementia, or prolonged periods of catatonic behavior.

Question 6

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) should be administered for the patient who:
A) gets lost in her neighborhood.
B) sleeps an excessive amount of time.
C) has repetitive ritualistic behaviors.
D) uses illegal hallucinogenic drugs.

Accepted Answer

The MMSE is a tool used to quantitatively estimate cognitive function or to serially document cognitive changes. Getting lost in a familiar territory is a sign of possible cognitive impairment.

Question 7

An older adult is administered the Set Test and scores a 14. The nurse interprets this score as indicative of:
A) depression.
B) cognitive impairment.
C) delirium.
D) dementia.

Accepted Answer

Scores of less than 15 on this mental function test indicate dementia.

Question 8

An aversion to touch or being held, along with delayed or absent language development, is characteristic of:
A) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
B) autism.
C) dementia.
D) mental retardation.

Accepted Answer

Autistic disorder involves a combination of behavioral traits (lack of awareness of others, aversion to touch or being held, odd or repetitive behaviors, or preoccupation with parts of objects) and communication deficits (usually echolalia [parrot speech]).

Question 9

A clinical syndrome of failing memory and impairment of other intellectual functions, usually related to obvious structural diseases of the brain, describes:
A) delirium.
B) dementia.
C) depression.
D) anxiety.

Accepted Answer

Dementia results from a chronic progressive deterioration of the brain that results in failing memory and impairment of other intellectual functioning.

Question 10

Which of the following are signs and symptoms of dementia?
A) Aphasia
B) Apathy
C) Odd behaviors
D) Disintegration of personality
E) Lack of awareness of others

Accepted Answer

Aphasia, apathy, and disintegration of personality are all characteristics of dementia. Odd behaviors and lack of awareness of others are characteristics of autism.

Question 11

While interviewing a patient, you ask him to explain the "Lion and the Mouse" to assess:
A) reading comprehension.
B) attention span.
C) mood and feeling.
D) reasoning skills.

Accepted Answer

Having the patient explain fables or metaphors determines abstract reasoning skills.

Question 12

The patient who is delirious usually maintains orientation to:
A) time.
B) place.
C) person.
D) circumstance.

Accepted Answer

The person with delirium is unable to orient to time, place, or circumstance, but remains oriented to person.

Question 13

Which of the following clinical assessments will test attention span?
A) Spell WORLD backward.
B) Draw a clock.
C) Say the days of the week.
D) Do arithmetic calculations.
E) Explain "a stitch in time saves nine."

Accepted Answer

Clinical assessments to test attention span include spell WORLD backward, say the days of the week, and do arithmetic calculations. Drawing a clock tests writing ability, and explaining a "stitch in time saves nine" tests abstract reasoning.

Quiz 5: Mental Status

Which condition is considered progressive rather than reversible?

You are interviewing a 20-year-old patient with a new-onset psychotic disorder. The patient is apathetic and has disturbed thoughts and language patterns. The nurse recognizes this behavior pattern as consistent with a diagnosis of:

The examiner should be concerned about neurologic competence if a social smile cannot be elicited by the time a child is _________ old.

Under most conditions, adult patients should be able to repeat a series of _____________ numbers.

Mrs. Griffiths, a 28-year-old patient, presents to your office to discuss her attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) . Which statement is true in regard to ADHD?

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) should be administered for the patient who:

An older adult is administered the Set Test and scores a 14. The nurse interprets this score as indicative of:

An aversion to touch or being held, along with delayed or absent language development, is characteristic of:

A clinical syndrome of failing memory and impairment of other intellectual functions, usually related to obvious structural diseases of the brain, describes:

Which of the following are signs and symptoms of dementia?

While interviewing a patient, you ask him to explain the "Lion and the Mouse" to assess:

The patient who is delirious usually maintains orientation to:

Which of the following clinical assessments will test attention span?