A soldier returns to the United States from active duty in a combat zone. The soldier is diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The nurse's highest priority is to screen this soldier for which problem?
Schizophrenia
Major depressive disorder
Bipolar disorder
Dementia
The Correct Answer is B
A. While both schizophrenia and PTSD are mental health disorders, the priority in this context for a soldier with a history of combat exposure is to screen for conditions that commonly arise from traumatic experiences, such as PTSD and major depressive disorder.
B. PTSD and major depressive disorder can often co-occur, especially in individuals exposed to trauma. Given the soldier's history of combat exposure and PTSD diagnosis, screening for major depressive disorder is crucial due to its frequent association with PTSD and its potential severity.
C. Bipolar disorder may share some symptoms with PTSD, but given the context of returning from combat and the diagnosis of PTSD, the priority would be to focus on screening for
conditions more directly linked to trauma.
D. Dementia is less likely to be directly related to combat exposure in a returning soldier. While it's essential to assess the soldier's overall mental health, the immediate concern in this scenario would be mental health conditions more commonly associated with trauma.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","C"]
Explanation
A. Experiencing a life-threatening event such as being trapped can precipitate PTSD.
B. Exposure to an R-rated movie, while potentially distressing, is not typically considered a traumatic event that leads to PTSD.
C. Prolonged exposure to traumatic events like abduction and captivity often leads to PTSD due to the severe and chronic trauma experienced.
D. This is not typically considered a traumatic event leading to PTSD as it's a voluntary, recreational activity that involves perceived safety measures.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. This is not the primary reason for the counseling. The decision-making recommendation is
more related to the effects of the electroconvulsive therapy and the need for the patient to recover from its associated side effects.
B. While readjustment to a work schedule might be a consideration, the primary reason for counseling against major decisions for a month is related to the potential side effects of
electroconvulsive therapy.
C. Temporary memory impairments and confusion are potential side effects of electroconvulsive therapy, which might interfere with decision-making abilities, hence the advice to refrain from major decisions.
D. Antidepressant medications causing confusion related to dietary limitations with tyramine is not directly relevant to the counseling against making major decisions after electroconvulsive therapy.
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