A care aide at a long-term care facility has informed a resident ...

[sheilaspns]

A care aide at a long-term care facility has informed a resident physician that an 80-year-old woman's eyes appear to be inflamed and that her eyelids are caked with sticky secretions.
 
  The woman has been subsequently diagnosed with posterior blepharitis. Which of the following treatments is the physician likely to initiate?
  A)
  Surgical repair of the woman's blocked meibomian glands
  B)
  Warm compresses to be applied regularly to her eyes in addition to oral antibiotics
  C)
  Regularly scheduled cleansing of the woman's eyes with normal saline
  D)
  Intravenous steroids coupled with topical antibiotic ointment

Question 2

Which of the following statements best captures the current understanding of the etiology of mental illness?
 
  A)
  The role of nurture, experiences, and relationships has been largely disproven.
  B)
  Mental illness can be attributed to organic brain changes and pathophysiological processes.
  C)
  Mental illness exists from the interplay of biologic factors and psychosocial influences.
  D)
  Current understanding of mental illness has shown that both biologic psychiatry and psychosocial psychiatry are incorrect.

[sokh]

Answer to Question 1

Ans:B

Feedback:

Treatment of posterior blepharitis is determined by associated conjunctival and corneal changes. Initial therapies can include warm compressing of the lids and use of flaxseed or fish oil tablets to provide omega-3 fatty acid benefits to meibomian oil secretions. Long-term, low-dose systemic antibiotic therapy guided by results of bacterial cultures along with short-term topical steroids may also be needed.

Answer to Question 2

Ans:
C

Feedback:

Mental illness is currently thought to be the outcome of anatomical and/or physiological influences and psychosocial factors. Neither factor can attribute for 100 of the diagnoses and manifestations of mental illness. Both biologic psychiatry and psychosocial psychiatry have their merits and demerits; neither is wholly incorrect.