When the spouse of a client diagnosed with dysthymia asks what the major difference is between
dysthymia and major depressive disorder, the nurse can point out that in major depressive disorder
a. the symptoms persist for 2 or more years.
b. evidence of an earlier hypomanic episode is present.
c. evidence of persistent suicidal ideation is always present.
d. the client does not give a history of feeling depressed for years.
D
Dysthymia is characterized by a chronic depressive syndrome usually present for many years. The
depressive mood disturbance cannot be distinguished from the person's usual pattern of functioning.
Option A: Persistence of symptoms occurs in dysthymia. Option B: This is true of bipolar disorder.
Option C: This is not universally true for major depressive disorder.
You might also like to view...
An insulin-dependent diabetic patient tells the nurse that she has been giving herself injections in the same location in her right thigh for the past several months because it is easier. What is the nurse's best action?
a. Provide patient teaching on rotating injection sites. b. Assess the patient for cumulative effects. c. Check the type of insulin the patient receives to ensure that it is compatible with the vastus lateralis site. d. Document the patient's comments, as the patient understands the treatment regimen.
A nurse is teaching a patient about a prescription for a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor for depression. What will the nurse teach the patient to avoid while taking this drug?
a. Alcoholic beverages b. Aged cheeses c. Brussels sprouts and cabbage d. Grapefruit juice
A patient develops mastitis three weeks after delivery. What part of self-care should the nurse instruct as being the most important?
A) Take prescribed antibiotic for the full course even if improvement is noted B) Use NSAIDs, warm showers, and warm compresses to relieve discomfort C) Breast-feed or otherwise empty the breasts every one to two hours D) Increase fluid intake to ensure an adequate amount of milk
When applying the "substituted judgment" standard for decision making, the nurse is asking the health care proxy to make decisions based on what the:
1. Family would like done under these circumstances 2. Spouse would like done under these circumstances 3. Proxy could imagine the patient wants for him- or herself 4. Health care providers feel is appropriate.