Author Question: A patient presents with withdrawal, poor concentration, fatigue, weakness, anorexia and aches. What ... (Read 41 times)

Awilson837 · **on:** Jul 19, 2018

A patient presents with withdrawal, poor concentration, fatigue, weakness, anorexia and aches. What conditions should the nurse consider as part of a differential diagnosis?

1. Anxiety and multiple sclerosis
2. Depression and congestive heart failure
3. Anxiety and diabetes
4. Depression and acute inflammatory illness

Question 2

A nurse is seeing a 71-year-old patient with Parkinson disease. The patient has frequent episodes of crying and reports having panic attacks, during which she feels as though she can't breathe. How should the nurse respond?

1. Inform the patient that depression is a normal reaction to a diagnosis of physical illness and it will naturally improve over time.
2. Inform the patient that a diagnosis of depression is unrelated to a diagnosis of Parkinson disease and refer the patient for counseling.
3. Inform the patient that brain changes that occur with Parkinson disease may be associated with high levels of depression and anxiety and may respond to pharmacotherapy.
4. Inform the patient that pharmacological treatment for depression is usually unsuccessful in patients with Parkinson disease because of possible side effects.

janeli1 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 19, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: 4
Explanation: Patients with acute inflammatory illness may exhibit sickness behavior, a constellation of symptoms similar to those of depression. Multiple sclerosis symptoms may appear similar to depression, not to anxiety. Although patients with congestive heart failure may also have depression, the symptoms of the two conditions do not generally mimic one another. The symptoms of anxiety and diabetes are different.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: 3
Explanation: Research suggests that high levels of depression and anxiety observed in Parkinson disease are a primary consequence of brain changes found in the disease and, therefore, may respond to pharmacotherapy. Although the rate of depression may rise with some physical illnesses, the rates vary depending on the illness and cannot be expected to improve without intervention. A diagnosis of depression is strongly associated with Parkinson disease. Although some early studies indicated concern over side effects, later studies have associated treatment for depression with motor as well as mood improvements in patients with Parkinson disease.