Which falls within the parameters of the normal initial course of treatment for ECT?
Once per week for six weeks
Three times per week for 6-12 treatments
Twice a week for 4 weeks
Once a week for 4 weeks
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason: A frequency of once per week is generally insufficient for the induction phase of Electroconvulsive Therapy. While this frequency might be utilized in maintenance therapy to prevent relapse, the initial course requires more frequent sessions to achieve the rapid therapeutic effect necessary for severe depression or acute catatonia.
Choice B reason: The standard clinical protocol for an initial course of Electroconvulsive Therapy involves sessions administered 2 to 3 times per week. Most patients require a total of 6 to 12 treatments to achieve significant symptomatic remission from major depressive disorder or other indicated psychiatric conditions before transitioning to maintenance.
Choice C reason: While twice a week is sometimes used in certain clinical settings to minimize cognitive side effects, a 4-week course at this frequency (8 treatments) is at the lower end of the therapeutic range. It is less representative of the standard "normal initial course" compared to the three-times-weekly protocol.
Choice D reason: Once a week for 4 weeks is not a standard induction protocol for Electroconvulsive Therapy. This regimen would likely result in an inadequate clinical response, as the cumulative effect of the treatments would be lost between sessions, failing to reach the seizure threshold density required for therapeutic change.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Labeling a 12-year-old as "neurotic" for reacting to significant life changes is clinically inappropriate and pathologizes normal development. The child’s feelings of being overwhelmed are a common response to the rapid biological and social shifts occurring during the early stages of the adolescent period.
Choice B reason: While the child feels overwhelmed, there is insufficient clinical evidence provided to diagnose major depressive disorder. The symptoms described are focused on external and physical changes rather than persistent low mood, anhedonia, or other core diagnostic criteria required for a formal diagnosis of clinical depression.
Choice C reason: A maturational crisis occurs during normal growth and development stages, such as puberty. The patient's description of body changes and shifting social dynamics with peers of the opposite sex are classic hallmarks of the transition into adolescence, necessitating new coping strategies to manage the transition.
Choice D reason: While an identity crisis (Erikson's Identity vs. Role Confusion) is a part of adolescence, the specific mentions of body changes and peer treatment are more indicative of the immediate maturational stressors of puberty. The maturational crisis is the broader category that encompasses these developmental shifts.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Cognitive restructuring involves identifying, challenging, and replacing irrational or distorted thoughts (cognitive distortions) with more realistic and evidence-based ones. By having the patient evaluate the actual probability of a fire, the nurse is helping the patient use logic to dismantle the obsessive, catastrophic thought pattern.
Choice B reason: Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or guided imagery, are used to manage the physiological symptoms of anxiety. While helpful for OCD, this specific interaction focuses on the intellectual processing of thoughts rather than the physical regulation of the autonomic nervous system.
Choice C reason: Flooding is a form of intensive exposure therapy where the patient is immediately and prolongedly exposed to their most feared stimulus or thought until the anxiety response extinguishes. This scenario describes a collaborative verbal exploration of logic, which is much less intensive and structured differently than flooding.
Choice D reason: Desensitization, specifically systematic desensitization, involves a graduated exposure to feared stimuli paired with relaxation techniques. This interaction is focused on the cognitive appraisal of the fear itself (the thought of the fire) rather than a planned, hierarchical exposure to the physical act of not checking cords.
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
Report Wrong Answer on the Current Question
Do you disagree with the answer? If yes, what is your expected answer? Explain.
Kindly be descriptive with the issue you are facing.