A nurse is caring for a patient with generalized anxiety disorder. The nurse understands that the goal of pharmacological treatment for anxiety disorders is to:
Completely eliminate anxiety symptoms.
Reduce the severity and frequency of anxiety symptoms.
Treat the underlying cause of anxiety disorders.
Prevent comorbidities associated with anxiety disorders.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale:
Completely eliminate anxiety symptoms. While this might be an ideal goal, it's not always achievable due to the nature of anxiety disorders. Anxiety is a normal human emotion, and the goal of treatment is to manage it rather than eliminate it completely.
Choice B rationale:
Reduce the severity and frequency of anxiety symptoms. This is the correct goal of pharmacological treatment for anxiety disorders. Complete elimination of anxiety symptoms is often unrealistic, but reducing their severity and frequency can significantly improve the patient's quality of life.
Choice C rationale:
Treat the underlying cause of anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are multifactorial, involving genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. While addressing underlying causes is important, pharmacological treatment primarily aims to manage symptoms rather than target the complex underlying causes.
Choice D rationale:
Prevent comorbidities associated with anxiety disorders. While effective anxiety treatment can potentially prevent some comorbidities, such as depression, the primary focus of pharmacological treatment is directly on managing anxiety symptoms rather than solely preventing associated conditions.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
"I feel like something bad is going to happen." This statement is similar to the correct answer, but it lacks the specific phrase "impending doom," which is a hallmark description in anxiety-related disorders.
Choice B rationale:
"My heart is racing, and I can't catch my breath." This statement focuses on physiological symptoms and doesn't capture the broader sense of anxiety and apprehension that the patient is expressing.
Choice C rationale:
"I feel anxious and restless." While this choice captures the patient's emotional state, it doesn't include the crucial phrase "impending doom," which is a common and specific expression of anxiety.
Choice D rationale:
"I have a feeling of impending doom." This statement precisely captures the patient's description of their emotions and physical sensations, which is characteristic of anxiety and panic disorders. It reflects the patient's perception of a potential catastrophe about to occur.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Rapid onset of action - Antidepressant medications with rapid onset of action, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can lead to quicker relief of symptoms. However, the nurse's statement mentions that it may take several weeks for the medication to start working fully, which contradicts the idea of rapid onset. Therefore, this choice is not applicable.
Choice B rationale:
Long duration of action - Antidepressants with long duration of action might provide sustained symptom relief once they take effect, but the nurse's statement focuses on the time it takes for the medication to start working fully rather than its duration of action. Thus, this choice is not relevant.
Choice C rationale:
Choice D rationale:
Slow onset of therapeutic effect - The nurse's statement, "It may take several weeks for the medication to start working fully," suggests that the medication has a slow onset of therapeutic effect. This is characteristic of many antidepressant medications, which often require several weeks of consistent use before significant symptom improvement is observed.
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