A client tells the nurse that he was considered "hyper" as a child and took some sort of medication

Question

for a few years while he was in grade school. The medication was discontinued when he was 13
years old.

He remembers being an underachiever in high school and just barely graduating. He
describes himself now as being disorganized and having problems in occupational functioning. The
nurse should recognize this description as being consistent with the clinical picture of
a. borderline personality disorder.
b. generalized anxiety disorder.
c. stress intolerance disorder.
d. adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Answer 1

D
ADHD is usually diagnosed in early life and treated until adolescence. Treatment is often stopped
because professionals think the disorder resolves itself because the hyperactive impulsive behaviors
may diminish. The inattentive and disorganized behaviors tend to persist, however. Options A and
B: The scenario description is inconsistent with borderline personality disorder and generalized
anxiety disorder. Option C: Stress intolerance disorder is not found in the DSM-IV-TR.