Ch 13- Trauma and Stressor

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

Page 1
1. Which of the following statements regarding the individual responses to trauma and
stressors is a positive outcome?
A) Many individuals are unable to cope with the event, manage their stress and
emotions, or resume the daily activities of their lives.
B) Some individuals may develop enhanced coping as a result of dealing with the
stressor.
C) These events are only significant in individuals who have risk for or actual mental
health problems or issues.
D) Large numbers or groups of people may be affected by a traumatic event.
Ans: B
Feedback:
People may experience events in their lives that are extraordinary in intensity or
severity, well beyond the stress of daily life. These traumatic events or stressors would
be expected to disrupt the life of anyone who experienced them, not just individuals at
risk for mental health problems or issues. These events and stressors may affect
individuals or large numbers and groups of people. While all persons experiencing
events such as these manifest anxiety, insomnia, difficulty coping, grief, or any variety
of responses, most work through the experience and return to their usual level of coping
and equilibriumóperhaps even enhanced coping as a result of dealing with the event.
2. What is the major difference between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute
stress disorder?
A) In acute stress disorder, the client is likely to develop exacerbation of symptoms.
B) In PTSD, the recovery rate is 80% within 3 months.
C) The severity and duration of the trauma are the most important variables in acute
stress disorder.
D) In PTSD, the symptoms occur 3 months or more after the trauma.
Ans: D
Feedback:
In acute stress disorder, the symptoms occur 2 days to 4 weeks after a traumatic event
and are resolved within 3 months of the event. In PTSD, the symptoms occur 3 months
or more after the trauma. In PTSD, the client is likely to develop exacerbation of
symptoms. The severity and duration of the trauma and the proximity of the person to
the event are the most important factors affecting the likelihood of developing PTSD. In
PTSD, complete recovery occurs within 3 months for about 50% of people.
Page 2
3. Which of the following statements about posttraumatic stress disorder is accurate?
A) Estimates are that the disorder is very rare.
B) Estimates are that up to 60% of people at risk develop PTSD.
C) Only 20% of victims of rape develop PTSD.
D) PTSD symptoms usually begin at the time of the trauma
Ans: B
Feedback:
Estimates are that up to 60% of people at risk develop PTSD.
4. Which of the following might the nurse recognize as longer-term responses to trauma
and stress? Select all that apply.
A) Acute stress disorder
B) Posttraumatic stress disorder
C) Adjustment disorder
D) Reactive attachment disorder
E) Dissociative disorder
Ans: B, C, D, E
Feedback:
Acute stress disorder usually occurs from 2 days to 4 weeks after a trauma.
Posttraumatic stress disorder usually begins 3 months after the trauma. All of the rest of
these are longer-term responses to trauma and stress.
5. Which of the following would the nurse know are the major elements of posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD)? Select all that apply.
A) Trying to avoid any places or people or situations that may trigger memories of
the trauma
B) Reexperiencing the trauma through dreams or recurrent and intrusive thoughts
C) Becoming increasingly more isolated
D) Emotional numbing such as feeling detached from others
E) Being on guard, irritable, or experiencing hyperarousal
Ans: B, D, E
Feedback:
The three major elements of PTSD are reexperiencing the trauma through dreams or
recurrent and intrusive thoughts, showing emotional numbing such as feeling detached
from others, and being on guard, irritable, or experiencing hyperarousal. The client may
also experience a numbing of general responsiveness and may try to avoid any places or
people or situations that may trigger memories of the trauma, but these are not the major
elements of PTSD.