A 25-year-old female client presents to the PMHNP for a psychiatric evaluation. She reports having moods that are "all over the place," but the moods never meet the level of full-blown mania or a major depressive episode. She says people call her "moody" and "unreliable." Which of the following conditions does she most likely meet diagnostic criteria for?
Schizoaffective disorder
Bipolar II disorder
Bipolar I disorder
Cyclothymic disorder
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: Schizoaffective disorder involves a combination of mood symptoms (mania or depression) and psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions, which are not described in this patient.
Choice B reason: Bipolar II disorder is characterized by hypomanic episodes and major depressive episodes. This patient does not report full depressive episodes, so criteria for Bipolar II are not met.
Choice C reason: Bipolar I disorder requires at least one manic episode, which the patient has not experienced. Therefore, Bipolar I is not appropriate.
Choice D reason: Cyclothymic disorder is characterized by chronic fluctuating mood disturbances, including periods of hypomanic symptoms and depressive symptoms that do not meet full criteria for hypomania or major depression. This matches the patient’s description of mood swings and chronic "moody" behavior.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Industry vs. inferiority occurs in school-aged children and relates to competence; failure here may affect self-esteem but not typically adolescent delinquency.
Choice B reason: Intimacy vs. isolation occurs in young adulthood and is concerned with forming intimate relationships, not adolescent behavior.
Choice C reason: Identity vs. Role Confusion occurs during adolescence. Failure to establish a coherent sense of self may manifest as conduct problems, delinquent behavior, and role confusion, consistent with this client.
Choice D reason: Initiative vs. Guilt occurs in early childhood and relates to asserting power and independence; it is not the stage directly tied to adolescent conduct disorder.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Scores in the normal range are below the threshold for depression and would typically fall under 50 on the Zung scale.
Choice B reason: Mild depression is generally indicated by lower scores (50–59), but 51 falls into the moderate range in some scoring interpretations.
Choice C reason: A score of 51 is consistent with moderate depression, indicating the presence of clinically significant depressive symptoms that may require intervention.
Choice D reason: Severe depression is usually represented by much higher scores (70+), which is not the case here.
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