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Final Exam: NR 547/ NR547 (New 2025/ 2026 Update) Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Me, Exams of Nursing

Final Exam: NR 547/ NR547 (New 2025/ 2026 Update) Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Mental Health Review| Questions & Answers| Grade A| 100% Correct

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2024/2025

Available from 06/23/2025

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FINAL EXAM: NR 547/ NR547 (NEW 2025/ 2026
UPDATE) DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS IN
PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH REVIEW|
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS| GRADE A| 100%
CORRECT
Differential diagnosis ANSWER-The provider's
initial hypothesis
-a working list of potential problems that can be
associated with the initial or chief complaint
-Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM-5-TR)
• provides guidance for identifying psychiatric
diagnoses
Psychiatric assessment: History taking - ANSWER-
History of Present Illness
-How long have you been feeling this way?
-Did something happen in your life that may have
triggered these emotions?
-How is this current situation impacting your life?
The Psychiatric History
-Have you ever been hospitalized for any mental health
issues?
-Have you ever had counseling or psychotherapy?
-Have you ever taken medications for your mental
health in the past?
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Download Final Exam: NR 547/ NR547 (New 2025/ 2026 Update) Differential Diagnosis in Psychiatric-Me and more Exams Nursing in PDF only on Docsity!

FINAL EXAM: NR 547/ NR547 (NEW 2025/ 202 6

UPDATE) DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS IN

PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH REVIEW|

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS| GRADE A| 100%

CORRECT

Differential diagnosis – ANSWER-The provider's initial hypothesis

  • a working list of potential problems that can be associated with the initial or chief complaint
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM- 5 - TR)
  • provides guidance for identifying psychiatric diagnoses Psychiatric assessment: History taking - ANSWER- History of Present Illness
  • How long have you been feeling this way?
  • Did something happen in your life that may have triggered these emotions?
  • How is this current situation impacting your life? The Psychiatric History
  • Have you ever been hospitalized for any mental health issues?
  • Have you ever had counseling or psychotherapy?
  • Have you ever taken medications for your mental health in the past?
  • Are you currently on any medications for mental health or sleep? Medical History/Screening for General Medical Conditions
  • Do you have a primary care provider?
  • Do you have any medical illnesses?
  • Are you currently taking any medications or herbal supplements?
  • Do you have any allergies to medications?
  • Have you ever been hospitalized for any reason?
  • Have you ever had surgery? Family Psychiatric History
  • Has any relative of yours ever been hospitalized for a mental health issue?
  • Has any blood relative of yours ever been diagnosed with a mental health issue?
  • Has any blood relative of yours had a history of seizures or dementia/Alzheimer's? Social and Developmental History
  • Tell me a little bit about your childhood and how you grew up.
  • How was your experience in school when you were younger? Did you enjoy school?
  • How do you support yourself with your finances?
  • Do you have a good support system? Are you currently in a relationship? Where do you live? Who do you live with?

Provide a ST – ANSWER-Provide a brief suicide safety assessment. Rationale: While the client's responses do not indicate a need for a stat full safety and mental health evaluation, the client requires a brief suicide safety assessment to determine whether a full mental health evaluation in necessary. It is also important to notify the client's physician or the clinician responsible for the client's care. Diagnostic Testing when diagnosing mental health disorders - ANSWER-Diagnostic tests and labs are most used to rule out physical conditions that may cause psychiatric symptoms and to evaluate the effects of treatment Basic Laboratory Interpretation – ANSWER-Complete Blood Count Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) Thyroid Function Tests Vitamin B12 Level Vitamin D Level Toxicology Screen Urinalysis (UA) Basic Laboratory Interpretation: Complete Blood Count

  • ANSWER-measures RBCs, WBCs, haemoglobin, haematocrit, and platelets
  • includes a differential of the WBCs
  • In mental health, the CBC is used to rule out medical conditions that may present with symptoms that can be attributed to both medical and psychiatric diagnoses
  • Ex: rule out anaemia as a cause for depressive symptoms and fatigue
  • Ex: rule out infection as a cause of acute mental status changes RBCs: 4.5-6.0 million/microliter Haemoglobin: 12-18 grams/100 mL Haematocrit: 38%-48% Reticulocytes: 0%-1.5% WBCs (total): 5000-10,000/microliter Neutrophils: 55%-70% Eosinophils: 1%-3% Basophils: 0.5%-1% Lymphocytes: 20%-35% Monocytes: 3%-8% Platelets: 150,000-300,000/microliter Basic Laboratory Interpretation: Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) – ANSWER-common blood test used to determine general health status
  • fluid and electrolyte balance, status of the body's metabolism, liver function, and kidney function
  • used to monitor the effects of medications, such as antipsychotics, on liver function and glucose levels
  • rule out medical conditions that could cause symptoms
  • Ex: changes in mood or cognition

T3: 100-200 ng/dL T4: 5-11 ug/dL Basic Laboratory Interpretation: Vitamin B12 Level – ANSWER-Deficiency of vitamin B12 can affect mood and other brain functions

  • psychiatric symptoms associated with B12 deficiency include depression, mania, psychotic symptoms, and cognitive impairment normal: 190 - 950 picograms/mL
  • 200-300/mL indicates a borderline level with a possible need for additional testing Basic Laboratory Interpretation: Vitamin D Level – ANSWER-affects functions such as neurotransmission, neuroprotection, & neuroimmunomodulation
  • high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in clients with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, seasonal affective disorder, and cognitive impairment
  • Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include depression, irritability, anxiety, psychosis, and poor brain development 25 - hydroxy vitamin D blood test: normal 20-50 ng/mL, less than 12 ng/mL indicates a deficiency Basic Laboratory Interpretation: Toxicology Screen - ANSWER-rule out substance use as a cause for symptoms
  • used before starting therapy involving controlled substances
  • used to monitor medication adherence
  • used in the diagnosis of substance use disorder Basic Laboratory Interpretation: Urinalysis (UA) – ANSWER-Urinary tract infections are associated with a variety of neuropsychiatric symptoms
  • acute mental status changes
  • UA may be used to rule out a UTI as the cause. Treat or Refer: Toni is a 58-year-old who presents with fatigue. Her TSH is 6.3 mIU/L. – ANSWER- Refer Rationale: A TSH level >4.0 is indicative of hypothyroidism, which is associated with fatigue. A referral for treatment of hypothyroidism is required. Client can be re-evaluated for fatigue if symptoms persist after hypothyroid treatment has been initiated, TSH levels are within normal limits. Treat or Refer: Leo is a 4 9 - year-old who presents with fatigue. His haemoglobin is 15 g/dL and haematocrit is 42%. – ANSWER-Begin treatment Rationale: The haemoglobin and haematocrit are within normal limits. This client's complaint of fatigue is not

hyperthyroid treatment has been initiated and T3 levels are within normal limits. Treat or Refer: Fred is a 19-year-old who presents with psychosis. His vitamin B12 level is 900 picograms/mL. – ANSWER- Begin treatment Rationale: The B12 level is within normal limits. Treatment for symptoms of psychosis should be initiated. Treat or Refer: Ted is a 64-year-old who presents with confusion. His serum creatinine is 7.0 mg/dL and BUN is 32. – ANSWER-Refer Rationale: Elevated serum creatinine and BUN indicate a problem with kidney function, which could contribute to confusion. Symptom-Directed Treatment – ANSWER- Psychiatric medication is generally prescribed in a transdiagnostic manner in which symptoms rather than diagnoses guide clinical practice Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) – ANSWER-the conditions in which individuals are "born, grow, live, work, and age" that contribute to the development of

both physical and psychiatric pathology over the course of one's life" SDOH: social and structural factors that impact mental health - ANSWER• Discrimination, racism, social exclusion

  • Adverse early life experiences
  • Poor education
  • Unemployment, underemployment, job insecurity
  • Poverty
  • Neighbourhood deprivation
  • Food insecurity
  • Poor housing quality and housing instability Legal and Ethical Considerations – ANSWER- Protecting the privacy and confidentiality of client records is a legal obligation and may help reassure the client The SNAPPS Method – ANSWER-Summarize the history and findings Narrow the differential dx to 2-3 possibilities analyse the differential by comparing & contrasting the possibilities Probe the preceptor by asking questions about alternative approaches or uncertainties

Developmental and social history Review of systems Mental status examination Physical examination Formulation DSM-5 diagnoses Treatment plan Psychiatric Review of Systems - ANSWERMood

  • Depression: Sadness, tearfulness, sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, sexual function, guilt, psychomotor agitation or slowing, interest. A common pneumonic used to remember the symptoms of major depression is SIGECAPS (Sleep, Interest, Guilt, Energy, Concentration, Appetite, Psychomotor agitation or slowing, Suicidality).
  • Mania: Impulsivity, grandiosity, recklessness, excessive energy, decreased need for sleep, increased spending beyond means, talkativeness, racing thoughts, hypersexuality.
  • Mixed/Other: Irritability, liability. Anxiety
  • Generalized anxiety symptoms: Where, when, who, how long, how frequent.
  • Panic disorder symptoms: How long until peak, somatic symptoms including racing heart, sweating, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, sense of doom, fear of recurrence, agoraphobia.
  • Obsessive-compulsive symptoms: Checking, cleaning, organizing, rituals, hang-ups, obsessive thinking, counting, rational vs. irrational beliefs.
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder: Nightmares, flashbacks, startle response, avoidance.
  • Social anxiety symptoms
  • Simple phobias, for example, heights, planes, spiders, etc. Psychosis
  • Hallucinations: Auditory, visual, olfactory, tactile.
  • Paranoia.
  • Delusions: TV, radio, thought broadcasting, mind control, referential thinking.
  • Patient's perception: Spiritual or cultural context of symptoms, reality testing. Other
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms.
  • Eating disorder symptoms: Binging, purging, excessive exercising process of DSM-5 differential diagnosis - ANSWER1) ruling out Malingering and Factitious Disorder
  1. ruling out a substance etiology
  2. ruling out an etiological medical condition
  3. determining the specific primary disorder(s)
  4. differentiating Adjustment Disorder from the residual Other Specified and Unspecified conditions
  5. establishing the boundary with no mental disorder
  • Drug therapy for at least 1 year first line medication treatment: Social anxiety disorder - ANSWER-Sertraline
  • Paroxetine
  • Drug therapy takes 4 weeks to see effects first line medication treatment: Post-traumatic stress disorder - ANSWER-Paroxetine
  • Sertraline Anxiety is often comorbid with _________________ as well as medical conditions such as ____________, ___________, and ___________ - ANSWERmajor depression, COPD, asthma, diabetes Generalized anxiety disorder (anxiety) - ANSWERneurological condition
  • characterized by persistent, uncontrollable worrying that causes emotional distress
  • show symptoms on most days, for a period of at least six months
  • common symptoms of anxiety include restlessness, irritability, muscle tension, fatigue, and sleep disturbances
  • GAD is twice as common in women as in men Patients with anxiety disorders often show increased activity in the ______________ and _______________
  • ANSWERamygdala and prefrontal cortex

Positron emission tomography (PET) scans have shown reduced ___________________ in patients with anxiety

  • ANSWERserotonin binding Risk factors for developing anxiety: - ANSWER- genetic predisposition (family history of anxiety)
  • being female
  • recent life stressors
  • chronic physical illness
  • lack of support during childhood Anxiety Disorders - ANSWERGeneralized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Social Anxiety Disorder Panic Phobias Agoraphobia Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety GAD often presents with physical symptoms, including:
  • ANSWERrestlessness or edginess fatigue difficulty concentrating irritability muscle tension sleep disturbance Functional neuroimaging studies of GAD show: - ANSWERincreased activation of the amygdala and
  • derealization, or a feeling of "spacing out," may occur
  • Causes likely include a combination of genetic and environmental factors
  • past year: 7% of adults and 9% of adolescents
  • DSM- 5 - TR defines social anxiety disorder as an individual's fear of acting in a way that might cause judgment by others
  • anxiety is persistent, lasting greater than six months Usually, social anxiety disorder causes distress and anxiety in specific social situations such as: - ANSWER-making small talk with others
  • meeting new people
  • performing in front of others (called performance anxiety) Panic attack - ANSWERbrief episode of acute anxiety during which an individual develops an intense fear of negative outcomes accompanied by a feeling of imminent danger
  • can be unpredictable
  • feelings are often accompanied by physiological symptoms
  • symptoms typically peak within ten to twenty minutes, some may last for hours Symptoms of Panic Attacks: - ANSWER-Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
  • Trembling or shaking
  • Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations)
  • Sensation of shortness of breath or smothering
  • Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (feeling detached from oneself)
  • Feeling of choking
  • Feeling of chest pain or discomfort
  • Nausea or abdominal stress
  • Feeling dizzy, unsteady, light-headed or faint
  • Chills or heat sensations Panic disorder - ANSWERoccurs when a person experiences repeated panic attacks
  • Anxiety about future attacks may lead to behavioral changes
  • avoid situations that might trigger attacks Fabrizia is a 27-year-old graphic designer who presents to the clinic two months after an emergency department visit for complaints of chest pain, palpitations, nausea, and dizziness. Her electrocardiogram (ECG) and cardiac enzyme panels showed no abnormalities. She states that the symptoms began while she was watching a movie with her boyfriend and lasted about 15 minutes. She has never experienced anything like this in the past, but since the episode, she has worried occasionally about the symptoms recurring, as her father died of a heart attack at age 45. Based on the DSM- 5 - TR, does Fabrizia meet diagnostic criteria for panic disorder? - ANSWERNo