ATI Mental Health Practice A

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Patients prescribed MAOIs need to avoid consuming tyramine-rich foods as these can lead to hypertensive crises. Tyramine is found in various foods like aged cheeses, cured meats, some types of beer, and fermented products. Interactions between tyramine and MAOIs can result in severe hypertension, highlighting the importance of educating patients about dietary restrictions to ensure their safety. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because high-protein foods, high-fiber foods, and low-fat foods do not pose a significant risk of hypertensive crises when taken with MAOIs. Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Prazosin is a medication often prescribed to manage nightmares in patients with PTSD. It works by blocking the action of adrenaline on specific receptors, which helps in reducing the intensity and frequency of nightmares. While flashbacks, hypervigilance, and depression are also common symptoms of PTSD, prazosin is specifically indicated for nightmares associated with the disorder. Flashbacks are typically addressed through therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy, hypervigilance may be managed through counseling and coping strategies, and depression may necessitate antidepressant medications or therapy tailored for depression.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: When initiating fluoxetine therapy in a patient with major depressive disorder, monitoring for suicidal ideation is crucial due to the increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors that can occur, especially in the initial phase of treatment. This close monitoring is essential to ensure patient safety and intervene promptly if such symptoms arise. Weight gain, hypertension, and hyperglycemia are potential side effects of some medications used to treat depression, but suicidal ideation is the most critical and immediate side effect to monitor for when starting fluoxetine.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: For a patient with agoraphobia, the priority intervention should be gradual exposure to feared situations. This approach helps the patient confront and gradually overcome their fear of leaving home, a common challenge in agoraphobia. By exposing the patient to feared situations in a step-by-step manner, they can learn to manage their anxiety and increase their confidence in leaving home. Teaching relaxation techniques (Choice A) can be beneficial but may not address the core issue of avoidance behavior. Encouraging the patient to attend social gatherings (Choice C) can be overwhelming and counterproductive at the initial stage of treatment. Providing education about the disorder (Choice D) is important but should come after addressing the immediate need for exposure therapy.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The most appropriate therapeutic approach for a patient diagnosed with borderline personality disorder exhibiting self-harming behavior is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). DBT is specifically designed to address the core symptoms of borderline personality disorder, including self-harming behaviors. It focuses on teaching patients skills to manage emotions, improve interpersonal relationships, and enhance distress tolerance. Psychoanalysis (Choice B) is not the most appropriate for immediate symptom management in this case. Supportive therapy (Choice C) may not provide the structured approach needed to address self-harming behaviors effectively. Pharmacotherapy (Choice D) may be used as an adjunct in some cases, but DBT is the frontline therapy for managing self-harming behaviors in borderline personality disorder.