A patient with bipolar disorder asks the nurse what caused the ...

[D2AR0N]

A patient with bipolar disorder asks the nurse what caused the illness. What will the nurse tell the patient regarding the genetic transmission of bipolar disorder?
 
  1. Bipolar disorder is caused by environmental factors.
  2. There is one single gene responsible for bipolar disorder.
  3. There is no known cause for the development of bipolar disorder.
  4. There appears to be a genetic link in the transmission of bipolar disease.

Question 2

A nurse is making an initial psychiatric assessment. What does she realize is the most important part of this process?
 
  1. Providing the DSM-5 diagnosis
  2. Gathering information from the family
  3. Ruling out a medical causation of symptoms
  4. Evaluating the need for psychotropic medication

[jharrington11]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: 4
Explanation: There appears to be about a 60 heritability factor in the transmission of bipolar disease. The environment acts in concert with genotype for the expression of mental disorders. There is no single gene responsible for any mental disorder. The exact cause of bipolar disorder is not known, but there appear to be heritability factors.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: 3
Explanation: The cardinal rule in psychiatric assessment is to rule out a medical causation of symptoms. Following a thorough assessment, the health care provider may make a DSM-5 diagnosis. If there is family present, information gathering may be helpful but it is not the most critical part of the initial assessment. Evaluating the need for psychotropic medication is not the first step in a nurse's initial assessment.