Personality and Mood Disorders Q 10
The community nurse is speaking to a group of new mothers as part of a primary prevention program. Which self-measures would be most helpful as a strategy to decrease the occurrence of mood disorders?
A. Keeping busy, so as not to confront problem areas.
B. Medication with antidepressants.
C. Use of crisis intervention services.
D. Verbalizing rather than internalizing feelings.
Correct Answer: D. Verbalizing rather than internalizing feelings.
Individuals who develop mood disorders often have difficulty expressing feelings, especially feelings of anger toward significant others. Internalizing those feelings can contribute to loss of self-esteem and guilt, and therefore negative cognitions and depression.
Option A: Ignoring problems is not a helpful strategy. Recognizing problems and using problem-solving methods will contribute to mental health. The nurse can direct their need for movement into socially acceptable, large motor activities such as arranging chairs for a community meeting or walking.
Option B: Antidepressants are certainly necessary in the treatment of the mood disorder of depression; however, they are not used in primary prevention. Decreasing environmental stimulation may assist the client to relax; the nurse must provide a quiet environment without noise, television, and other distractions; finger foods or things the client can eat while moving around are the best options to improve nutrition.
Option C: Crisis intervention would be a useful strategy in handling the immediate needs of someone experiencing a crisis; it is not a tool of primary prevention. A primary nursing responsibility is to provide a safe environment for the client and others; for clients who feel out of control, the nurse must establish external controls emphatically and nonjudgmentally.