A 21-year-old woman presents to the PMHNP with a chief complaint of "being depressed for a while now." After a complete psychiatric evaluation with administration of the PHQ-9, the PMHNP considers sending this patient for inpatient hospitalization. Which of the following was her likely score?
10
15
25
5
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A reason: A score of 10 indicates moderate depression, typically managed outpatient, and is unlikely to warrant hospitalization alone.
Choice B reason: A score of 15 suggests moderately severe depression, which may require close monitoring but not necessarily inpatient care.
Choice C reason: A PHQ-9 score of 25 reflects severe depression with potential risk of self-harm or functional impairment, justifying consideration for inpatient hospitalization.
Choice D reason: A score of 5 indicates mild depression, not sufficient to require inpatient care.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Durham v. U.S. introduced the concept that a defendant is not criminally responsible if their unlawful act was the product of a mental disease or defect, forming the basis for the modern insanity defense.
Choice B reason: Rennie v. Klein addressed patients’ rights to refuse medication, not the insanity defense.
Choice C reason: Dusky v. U.S. established the standard for competency to stand trial, not the insanity defense.
Choice D reason: Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California established the duty to warn potential victims, unrelated to the insanity defense.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: The thalamus acts as a relay station for sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex. It does not produce dopamine.
Choice B reason: The amygdala is primarily involved in emotional processing, particularly fear and threat detection, but it is not a major site of dopamine production.
Choice C reason: The substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area are key dopaminergic nuclei in the brain. Dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra are involved in motor control pathways, while the ventral tegmental area is critical for reward, motivation, and reinforcement learning.
Choice D reason: The hippocampus is essential for memory formation and spatial navigation. Although dopamine modulates hippocampal activity, it is not produced there.
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