Author Question: A 39-year-old woman was the victim of a violent assault 1 year ago and, in the ensuing period, has ... (Read 49 times)

ETearle · **on:** Jul 19, 2018

A 39-year-old woman was the victim of a violent assault 1 year ago and, in the ensuing period, has developed the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Additionally, she has become heavily dependent on alcohol and required multiple visits to the emergency department for alcohol poisoning. What category of dual diagnosis does this client exhibit?

A) Primary diagnosis of major mental illness with a subsequent secondary diagnosis of a substance-related disorder
B) Substance-related disorder that results in a secondary mental illness
C) Mental illness and substance-related disorder occurring simultaneously with no apparent etiologic relationship
D) Substance-related disorder and mood disorder occurring due to an underlying traumatic experience

Question 2

Some of the nurses in a large, suburban emergency department are exasperated to see that a well-known client with a dual diagnosis has again been brought by ambulance for treatment.

Which of the following factors is known to make assessment of clients with dual diagnoses difficult?

A) Clients with dual diagnoses are typically of lower intelligence.
B) Clients with dual diagnoses are often poor historians.
C) Clients with dual diagnoses commonly have overbearing family members.
D) Clients with dual diagnoses frequently have developmental disabilities.

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

Answer to Question 1

Ans: D
This client's PTSD and alcohol use are both rooted in the trauma of her assault.

Answer to Question 2

Ans: B
Clients with dual diagnoses are often poor historians, a fact that makes assessment difficult. While they have psychiatric diagnoses, this does not mean that they are of lower intelligence, and developmental disabilities are not among the most common psychiatric diagnoses for this group. They are often isolated, rather than having overbearing family members.