Signs and Symptoms of Child Abuse and Neglect
Signs and Symptoms of Child Abuse and Neglect ( 8 Questions)
A nurse is assessing a 9-year-old client who was sexually abused by her uncle. The nurse notes that the client has difficulty trusting others, feels guilty and ashamed, and has nightmares and flashbacks of the abuse. The nurse recognizes that these are signs of which of the following mental health disorders?
Reason: This is the correct answer. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that occurs after exposure to a traumatic event that involves actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. PTSD is characterized by intrusive symptoms (such as nightmares, flashbacks, or distressing memories), avoidance symptoms (such as avoiding reminders of the trauma or detaching from others), negative alterations in cognition and mood (such as guilt, shame, or distrust), and alterations in arousal and reactivity (such as hypervigilance, irritability, or insomnia).
Reason: This is not a correct answer. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mental health disorder that involves persistent and pervasive feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or worthlessness that interfere with daily functioning. MDD may be triggered by traumatic events such as sexual abuse, but it does not necessarily involve symptoms of intrusion, avoidance, or hyperarousal that are specific to PTSD.
Reason: This is not a correct answer. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a mental health disorder that involves excessive and uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life that causes significant distress or impairment. GAD may be exacerbated by traumatic events such as sexual abuse, but it does not necessarily involve symptoms of intrusion, avoidance, or negative mood that are specific to PTSD.
Reason: This is not a correct answer. Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a mental health disorder that involves disruption of identity characterized by two or more distinct personality states that recurrently take control of behavior. DID may be associated with traumatic events such as sexual abuse, but it does not necessarily involve symptoms of intrusion, avoidance, or arousal that are specific to PTSD.
Choice A Reason: This is the correct answer. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that occurs after exposure to a traumatic event that involves actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. PTSD is characterized by intrusive symptoms (such as nightmares, flashbacks, or distressing memories), avoidance symptoms (such as avoiding reminders of the trauma or detaching from others), negative alterations in cognition and mood (such as guilt, shame, or distrust), and alterations in arousal and reactivity (such as hypervigilance, irritability, or insomnia).
Choice B Reason: This is not a correct answer. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mental health disorder that involves persistent and pervasive feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or worthlessness that interfere with daily functioning. MDD may be triggered by traumatic events such as sexual abuse, but it does not necessarily involve symptoms of intrusion, avoidance, or hyperarousal that are specific to PTSD.
Choice C Reason: This is not a correct answer. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a mental health disorder that involves excessive and uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life that causes significant distress or impairment. GAD may be exacerbated by traumatic events such as sexual abuse, but it does not necessarily involve symptoms of intrusion, avoidance, or negative mood that are specific to PTSD.
Choice D Reason: This is not a correct answer. Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a mental health disorder that involves disruption of identity characterized by two or more distinct personality states that recurrently take control of behavior. DID may be associated with traumatic events such as sexual abuse, but it does not necessarily involve symptoms of intrusion, avoidance, or arousal that are specific to PTSD.