Deck 19: Childhood and Adolescent Mental Health Issues

Question 1

The nurse knows that stimulant medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should be administered:
1)At bedtime, to coincide with rising cortisol levels.
2)Only on school days to improve performance.
3)On an empty stomach.
4)With breakfast and lunch.

Answer 1

4

Question 2

Marie is 16 years old. She has been referred to the clinic by the nurse at her school because she started a fight with a younger girl and hurt her badly. The school nurse reports that Marie has been troublesome before-skipping school, bullying, and smoking on school grounds on several occasions. Of the following, which diagnosis is most likely?
1)Bipolar depression
2)Paranoid schizophrenia
3)Conduct disorder
4)Dysthymic disorder

Answer 2

3

Question 3

A boy with a conduct disorder diagnosis would be most likely to have which symptom?
1)Withdrawal
2)Ritualistic behavior
3)Class bully
4)Class clown

Answer 3

3

Question 4

You are caring for a 13-year-old boy with a diagnosis of conduct disorder. Which of the following would you be most likely to expect given this diagnosis?
1)Severe separation anxiety from parents
2)Making up stories to make him appear more important
3)History of cruelty to schoolmates and pets
4)Insomnia and anorexia nervosa

Question 5

Which of the following statements is true about the differences in mental health problems between children and adults?
1)Children are affected by the same stressors as adults, but to different degrees and with different manifestations.
2)Children's mental health disorders are generally much less severe and resolve more quickly than do those of adults.
3)Children's mental health problems are different from those of adults because their brains are "wired" differently.
4)Children have better means of "working off" stresses than do adults.

Question 6

Which of the following is the most common childhood mental disorder?
1)Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
2)Asperger's syndrome
3)Conduct disorder
4)Enuresis

Question 7

Which of the following statements by your attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) child's parents indicate they need further teaching?
1)"We will establish firm but reasonable limits on his behavior."
2)"We will give him his medication at night so it won't decrease his appetite."
3)"We will set him up in a special program at his school so he will get extra attention."
4)"We will work to ensure he gets 8 hours of sleep a night."

Question 8

Which of the following statements about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are true (select all that apply)?
1)ADHD is more common in boys than in girls.
2)Children with ADHD tend to be of below-average intelligence.
3)ADHD can be caused by a chaotic family life.
4)Children with ADHD are often treated with the use of stimulants.
5)Children with ADHD often benefit from behavior modification tools like limit setting, reward systems, and positive reinforcement.

Question 9

A girl with suicidal thoughts would be most likely to have which symptoms (select all that apply)?
1)Asking questions about death
2)Losing interest in sports
3)Showing evidence of substance abuse
4)Exhibiting delayed speech skills
5)Experiencing echolalia

Question 10

Marty is a 15-year-old boy whose parents have brought him to a mental health clinic for evaluation. They are concerned because his grades have fallen and he has become angry and sometimes even violent. He spends long periods of time alone and does not want to see his friends. The parents report that he has never been a "bad" boy nor had problems in school. They are worried about the changes in his behavior. Which of the following is the most likely cause?
1)Depression
2)Running around with a tough crowd
3)Normal adolescent phase
4)Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Question 11

Which of the following would be the first priority for nurses caring for autistic children?
1)Assist the psychiatrist and mental health team in providing treatments to cure the disorder.
2)Determine which of the two types of autism the child has.
3)Discourage and prevent self-destructive behavior.
4)Provide behavior modification tools, specifically limit setting and reward systems.

Question 12

Suzanne is a 10-year-old girl who has been diagnosed as experiencing depression. What is likely to be the most effective way to help Suzanne express her feelings?
1)Have her participate in a group therapy session with other young children who are depressed.
2)Ask her to draw some pictures about things that she's been thinking about.
3)Arrange for individual psychotherapy sessions with a psychiatrist.
4)Observe her actions but don't seek to draw her into conversation.

Question 13

The single most common symptom of autism spectrum disorder is:
1)Inability to grasp reality.
2)Impaired social interaction.
3)"Acting-out" behaviors.
4)Diminished affect.

Question 14

Joey is a 5-year-old who is causing his parents a lot of concern. His mother reports that "he bounces off the walls all the time" and can't focus on any one thing for very long. He is impulsive and recently ran out into the street in front of the family's home. His teacher has told his parents that he has done similar things at school. The nurse understands that:
1)Joey shows all the signs of having ADHD and should probably be placed on Ritalin as soon as possible.
2)Joey is just an active, healthy child who needs to be disciplined more effectively.
3)Joey could be autistic, and additional testing will have to be done to confirm the diagnosis.
4)Joey shows signs of having ADHD but is too young for that diagnosis to be made definitively now.

Question 15

Which symptoms are typical of depression in younger children (select all that apply)?
1)Social isolation
2)Boredom
3)Rapid mood swings
4)Poor concentration
5)Grandiose delusions