Author Question: The patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks why psychotropic medications are always prescribed by ... (Read 33 times)

elizabeth18 · **on:** Jul 19, 2018

The patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks why psychotropic medications are always prescribed by the doctor. The nurse's answer will be based on information that the thera-peutic action of psychotropic drugs is the result of their effect on:

a. The temporal lobe; especially Wernicke's area
b. Dendrites and their ability to transmit electrical impulses
c. The regulation of neurotransmitters especially dopamine
d. The peripheral nervous system sensitivity to the psychotropic medications

Question 2

A student nurse mutters that it seems entirely unnecessary to have to struggle with un-derstanding the anatomy and physiology of the neurologic system. The mentor would base a response on the understanding that it is:

a. Necessary but generally for psychiatric nurses who focus primarily on behavioral interventions
b. A complex undertaking that advance practice psychiatric nurses frequently use in their practice
c. Important primarily for the nursing assessment of patients with brain trau-macaused cognitive symptoms
d. Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients especially those experienc-ing psychiatric disorders

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

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Medications used to treat psychiatric disorders operate in and around the synaptic cleft and have action at the neurotransmitter level, especially in the case of schizophrenia, on dopa-mine. The Wernicke's area, dendrite function, or the sensitivity of the peripheral nervous system are not relevant to either schizophrenia or psychotropic medications.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
Nurses must understand that many symptoms of psychiatric disorders have a neurologic ba-sis, although the symptoms are manifested behaviorally. This understanding facilitates effec-tive care planning. The foundation of knowledge is not used exclusively by advanced prac-tice psychiatric nurses nor is it relevant for only behavior therapies or brain trauma since dealing with the results of normal and abnormal brain function is a responsibility of all nurses providing all types of care to the psychiatric patient.