Personality and Mood Disorders Q 40
When assessing a client diagnosed with impulse control disorder, the nurse observes violent, aggressive, and assaultive behavior. Which of the following assessment data is the nurse also likely to find? Select all that apply.
A. The client functions well in other areas of his life.
B. The degree of aggressiveness is out of proportion to the stressor.
C. The violent behavior is most often justified by the stressor.
D. The client has a history of parental alcoholism and chaotic, abusive family life.
Correct Answers: A, B, & D
A client with an impulse control disorder who displays violent, aggressive, and assaultive behavior generally functions well in other areas of his life. An impulse control disorder is a condition in which a person has trouble controlling emotions or behaviors. Often, the behaviors violate the rights of others or conflict with societal norms and the law.
Option A: This disorder, also known as IED, is characterized by persistent impulsive and angry outbursts. The person may be violent or aggressive toward people, animals, or property. These tirades may only last about a half hour and are usually triggered by a minor issue with someone the person knows. The outbursts may result in legal or financial issues, disrupt a person’s interpersonal relationships, cause significant distress, and potentially result in problems at work or school.
Option B: A person with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) frequently loses their temper, is easily annoyed, and often becomes angry or resentful. They challenge authority figures, flout rules, bother other people on purpose, and blame other people for their problems. As a result of these behaviors, the person suffers problems at work and school, and socially. Symptoms may appear as early as preschool. The prevalence rate is estimated to be around 3.3%.
Option C: The degree of aggressiveness is typically out of proportion with the stressor. Conduct disorder consists of persistent behavior that violates social rules. The person may be aggressive toward people or animals, destroy other people’s property, lie or steal, or violate rules, such as run away or skip school at an early age. The behavior causes serious problems at school or socially. People are usually not diagnosed with this disorder over the age of 18. Adults with these symptoms are diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. The prevalence rate is estimated to be about 4%.
Option D: About 19.7 million people in the United States aged 12 and older battled a substance use disorder in 2017, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reports, and about 8.5 million Americans age 18 and older suffered from co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders in 2017. Impulse control disorders and substance use disorders frequently co-occur.