Nursing Elites

1. Which of the following statements about brain dysfunction and psychiatric disorders is correct?

• A. Identifiable brain damage is often the cause of psychiatric disorders.
• B. Brain damage may decrease the risk of developing a psychiatric condition.
• C. Changes in brain function appear to play a role in many psychiatric disorders.
• D. Brain development can be altered by experience, always leading to changes in the brain that decrease the risk of developing a psychiatric condition.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct statement is C: 'Changes in brain function appear to play a role in many psychiatric disorders.' This statement is accurate as research suggests that alterations in brain function are associated with various psychiatric disorders. Option A is incorrect because while brain damage can contribute to some psychiatric conditions, it is not always the primary cause. Option B is incorrect as brain damage typically increases the risk of developing psychiatric disorders. Option D is incorrect because while brain development can be influenced by experiences, it does not always decrease the risk of psychiatric conditions.

2. How is pruning best defined?

• A. The process of eliminating unused synapses
• B. The process of synapse development
• C. The connection between neurons
• D. Fatty sheath that wraps around neurons and enables them to transmit information more rapidly

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Pruning is the process of eliminating unused synapses in the brain. This process helps the brain to become more efficient by strengthening important connections and eliminating unnecessary ones. Choice B is incorrect because pruning is about eliminating synapses, not developing them. Choice C is incorrect as it refers to the general concept of connections between neurons, not specifically about pruning. Choice D is incorrect as it describes the myelin sheath, which is responsible for rapid transmission of information along neurons, not pruning.

3. Which neurotransmitter is reduced in both the manic and depressive phases of bipolar disorder?

• A. Acetylcholine
• B. Dopamine
• C. Norepinephrine
• D. Serotonin

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, Serotonin. Serotonin levels are reduced during both the manic and depressive phases of bipolar disorder. Acetylcholine (choice A) is not typically linked to bipolar disorder. Dopamine (choice B) and norepinephrine (choice C) are more commonly associated with conditions like schizophrenia and depression, respectively, rather than bipolar disorder. Therefore, they are not the neurotransmitters reduced in both manic and depressive phases of bipolar disorder.

4. In the 5th substage of sensorimotor development, what does Piaget refer to as 'experimentation,' where the infant tries out new ways of playing with or manipulating objects?

• A. Short-term memory
• B. Working memory
• C. Core memories
• D. Long-term memory

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, 'Long-term memory.' In the 5th substage of sensorimotor development, Piaget refers to 'experimentation' as tertiary circular reactions, where the infant tries out new ways of playing with or manipulating objects. This stage involves exploring and testing different ways of interacting with the world to understand cause and effect relationships. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as they do not align with Piaget's concept of tertiary circular reactions and experimentation in the sensorimotor stage of development.

5. In psychoanalytic theory, which psychosexual stage centers on castration anxiety?

• A. Genital
• B. Oral
• C. Anal
• D. Phallic

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Castration anxiety is a concept specific to the Phallic stage in psychoanalytic theory, according to Sigmund Freud. During the Phallic stage, children experience the Oedipus complex (boys) and Electra complex (girls), where they develop unconscious desires for the opposite-sex parent and fear castration by the same-sex parent. This anxiety is a crucial aspect of the Phallic stage, making it the correct answer. The other stages (Genital, Oral, and Anal) do not directly involve castration anxiety and focus on different aspects of psychosexual development.

Similar Questions