Jane presents in the Emergency Department with a friend, who ...

[MGLQZ]

Jane presents in the Emergency Department with a friend, who reports that Jane has been sitting in her apartment staring off into space and doesn't seem interested in doing anything.
 
  During the assessment Jane reveals, with little emotion, that she was raped 4 months ago. Which of these is the most appropriate interpretation of Jane's lack of emotion? A. Jane is probably hearing voices telling her to be emotionless.
  B. Jane is experiencing numbing of emotional response, which is a common symptom of PTSD.
  C. Jane is trying to be secretive, and lying is a common symptom in PTSD.
  D. Jane is currently re-experiencing the traumatic event and is having a dissociative episode.

Question 2

Joshua recently moved into a dormitory to begin his freshman year in college.
 
  He was reprimanded by the dormitory supervisor for not properly disposing of food items and responded by throwing all of his belongings from a second story window while shouting obscenities. The campus police escorted him to campus health services, where he was diagnosed with an Adjustment Disorder with Disturbance of Conduct. Which of the following items in Joshua's history predispose him to this disorder? Select all that apply. A. Joshua reports that he doesn't have any friends in the dormitory.
  B. Joshua's family currently lives out of the country and are often difficult to reach.
  C. Joshua was notified the same day that he would have to withdraw from one of his classes because he didn't have the prerequisite credits needed to register for the class.
  D. Joshua has a higher than average GPA and is a member of The National Honor Society.

[chloejackso]

Answer to Question 1

B

General numbing of emotional response is a common symptom of PTSD. Items A and D are not the most appropriate interpretations because the data are inadequate to make that inference. Item C is incorrect; lying is not a common symptom in PTSD.

Answer to Question 2

A, B, C
Items A and B may suggest lack of available support systems, which is identified as a predisposing factor for Adjustment Disorders. Item C presents evidence of another stressor occurring in proximity to the reprimand from the dormitory supervisor, which may also predispose to the development of an Adjustment Disorder.