A young client has been brought to a clinic for evaluation. The client has developed several motor tics and shouts throughout the day. The mother states this has been going on for over a year. Which disorder does the nurse suspect this to be?

autism spectrum disorder

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Tourette's disorder

communication disorder

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Tourette disorder is a neurodevelopmental syndrome characterized by multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic persisting for over 1 year. The pathophysiology involves basal ganglia dysfunction and abnormalities in neurotransmitter pathways, particularly involving dopamine signaling. Onset typically occurs in childhood, and symptoms frequently wax and wane in severity while significantly impacting social and academic functioning.

Rationale:

A. Autism spectrum disorder is primarily characterized by deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior. Although repetitive movements may occur, they are not the rapid, involuntary arrhythmic contractions seen in tic disorders. Diagnosis requires significant impairment in social interaction and communication which is not the primary feature described.

B. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder involves a persistent pattern of inattention and impulsivity. Although ADHD frequently co-occurs with tic disorders, the presence of specific motor and vocal tics for over a year is pathognomonic for Tourette rather than a standard presentation of hyperactivity or executive dysfunction symptoms.

C. The combination of multiple motor tics and vocal tics like shouting for a duration exceeding 12 months meets the diagnostic criteria. Tourette disorder is distinguished by this specific chronicity and variety of tics. The nurse recognizes that vocal tics can range from simple sounds to complex vocalizations or shouted words.

D. Communication disorders focus on difficulties with language acquisition, speech fluency, or social use of verbal and nonverbal communication. Shouting as a tic is an involuntary physical vocalization rather than a deficit in linguistic structure. Therefore, the symptoms provided point toward a neurological tic disorder rather than a speech-related impairment.

Nursing Test Bank

Test Bank #1: RN Pharmacology Exams Test Bank #2: RN Medical-Surgical Exams Test Bank #3: RN Fundamentals Exams Test Bank #4: RN Maternal-Newborn Exams Test Bank #5: RN Anatomy and Physiology Exams Test Bank #6: RN Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Test Bank #7: RN Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Test Bank #9: RN Adult Health Test Bank #10: RN Dosage Calculation Test Bank #11: RN Community Health Exams Test Bank #12: RN Psychology Exams Test Bank #13: RN Nursing Care Of Children Test Bank #14: RN Foundations of Nursing Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Exam #1: RN Comprehensive predictor 2023 proctored exam Exam #2: Ati rn vati comprehensive predictor proctored exam Exam #3: Ati Rn Comprehensive Predictor Proctored Exam 2023 Exam #4: Rn Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Proctored Exam - St. Joseph Exam #5: RN Comprehensive Predictor Proctored Exam (National U CA San Diego) Exam #6: Ati rn comprehensive predictor 2023 retake proctored exam Exam #7: RN Hesi Exit Proctored Exam Exam #8: Hesi RN Exit proctored exam Exam #9: Hesi rn exit proctored exam Exam #10: Hesi Rn compass exit B proctored exam

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Military service involves exposure to unique stressors, but depressive disorder (specifically major depressive disorder) is documented at moderately higher rates among veterans compared to the general civilian population. This is often linked to the complexities of reintegration, the loss of the military tribe or support structure, and the psychological impact of service-related injuries or chronic pain.

Rationale:

A. Statistics from the department of veterans affairs indicate that depression is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions facing veterans. It frequently co-occurs with PTSD and substance use disorders, creating a polytrauma clinical picture that can make veterans hesitant to seek help due to perceived stigma or a desire for self-reliance.

B. Bipolar disorder rates among veterans are generally consistent with those found in the general population. The high-stress environment of combat can trigger or exacerbate underlying mood disorders, but military service itself is not a specific risk factor for the development of the biological pathways associated with bipolar disorder.

C. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is not significantly more prevalent in the veteran population. Although military life requires high levels of discipline, attention to detail, and routine, these professional requirements do not translate into a higher clinical incidence of OCD compared to civilians.

D. Paranoid disorder (or paranoid personality disorder) is relatively rare. While veterans may experience hypervigilance, a state of increased alertness often developed as a survival mechanism in combat, this is typically a symptom of PTSD rather than a diagnosis of a primary paranoid personality disorder.

A. Continue to remind the child and parents that the prognosis for improvement is very poor. B. Encourage the parents to believe that the child will recover spontaneously. C. Focus on their problems instead of their strengths and assets. D. Assist the child and the parents to develop coping mechanisms.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

In pediatric psychiatric nursing, a poor prognosis does not equate to a lack of nursing intervention. The focus shifts from curative measures to functional optimization and family-centered care. By fostering resilience, the nurse helps the family navigate chronic mental health challenges, reducing the risk of caregiver burnout and secondary trauma for the child.

Rationale:

A. Constantly reminding the family that the prognosis is very poor destroys therapeutic hope and can lead to a sense of hopelessness and despair. Nurses must be honest, but repeatedly emphasizing failure creates a negative environment that discourages the family from engaging in supportive care that could still improve the child's quality of life.

B. Encouraging a belief in spontaneous recovery is dishonest and undermines informed consent. Providing false hope prevents the parents from preparing for the long-term reality of the disorder and may lead to a devastating psychological crash when the expected recovery does not occur.

C. Focusing solely on problems rather than strengths is a deficit-based approach that erodes the child's self-esteem. Modern psychiatric care utilizes a strengths-based model, identifying what the child can do to build confidence and autonomy, even within the limitations of their diagnosis.

D. Assisting the child and parents to develop coping mechanisms is the most positive and practical intervention. It empowers the family to manage day-to-day stressors, regulate emotions, and maintain a stable home environment. Effective coping strategies allow the family to find meaning and stability despite the long-term nature of the psychiatric condition.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A young client has been brought to a clinic for evaluation. The client has developed several motor tics and shouts throughout the day. The mother states this has been going on for over a year. Which disorder does the nurse suspect this to be?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Military veterans with mental issues often do not seek treatment. The nurse in a VA hospital knows which disorder is moderately higher in veterans than in the general population?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

When the prognosis of improvement in a child with psychiatric disorders is poor, what can the nurse do to positively influence children and adolescents and their parents?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Which is possible with somatization? Select all that apply.

While assessing the family dynamics of a client with an eating disorder, which does the nurse most likely discover?

When working with a client with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), who has frequent flashbacks, the nurse should include which intervention?

The client says to the nurse, "I really want to see my first grandchild born before I die. Is that too much to ask?" The nurse would recognize that the client is in which stage of grieving, according to Kubler-Ross?

The nurse decides to place an aggressive and violent client in mechanical restraints. The nurse bases this decision on what?

In the psychiatric setting, what is the most effective intervention in preventing the hostile client's behavior from escalating to physical aggression?

A young client has been brought to a clinic for evaluation. The client has developed several motor tics and shouts throughout the day. The mother states this has been going on for over a year. Which disorder does the nurse suspect this to be?

The bereaved client has worked through many processes of grief with the nurse. Which are eventual outcomes of the emotional dimension of grieving? Select all that apply.