RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-2)
Mental Health Nursing (E5)
Easy
______is an acquired global impairment of intellect, memory and personality but without impairment of consciousness.
Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-2)
Explanation
- Dementia is defined as an acquired syndrome involving a global decline in multiple cognitive domains, such as memory, intellect, and personality.
- A crucial part of this definition is that these cognitive impairments occur while the individual's level of consciousness remains clear and unclouded, especially in the early to moderate stages.
- The onset is typically gradual (insidious), and the course is progressive over months to years.
- This description precisely matches the statement provided in the question stem.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: Delirium is incorrect because it is fundamentally characterized by a disturbance in consciousness and attention. The level of awareness is typically clouded and fluctuates throughout the day.
- Option B: Schizophrenia is a primary psychiatric disorder affecting thought processes, perception (e.g., hallucinations), and emotional regulation. While cognitive deficits can be a feature, it is not defined as a global impairment of intellect and memory with intact consciousness.
- Option D: Depression is a mood disorder. Although severe depression can cause cognitive symptoms that mimic dementia (a condition sometimes called 'pseudodementia'), the primary deficit is in mood. The cognitive impairment is not typically a progressive organic decline.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Definition and differentiation of dementia from other cognitive and psychiatric disorders as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- For nurses, accurately differentiating between dementia, delirium, and depression is critical for patient safety and effective care planning. Delirium, in particular, is a medical emergency that requires immediate investigation of its underlying cause.
- Misdiagnosing delirium as dementia or depression can lead to failure to treat life-threatening conditions (like infection, hypoxia, or metabolic imbalance) and inappropriate use of psychotropic medications.
- What if? If a patient with known dementia suddenly becomes more confused and agitated, the nurse should not assume it's just the progression of dementia. The priority is to assess for a superimposed delirium by looking for acute causes like a urinary tract infection, pneumonia, or medication side effects.
How to Approach the Question
- First, carefully read the question stem and identify the key defining features of the condition described.
- The most critical phrases here are 'global impairment of intellect, memory and personality' and 'without impairment of consciousness.'
- Evaluate each option against this definition.
- Recall the core features of Delirium: it is acute and involves impaired consciousness. This eliminates Option A.
- Recall the core features of Schizophrenia (thought disorder) and Depression (mood disorder). While they can have cognitive symptoms, their primary definition does not match the stem. This eliminates Options B and D.
- Recognize that the description in the stem is the classic textbook definition of Dementia.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Definition and differentiation of dementia from other cognitive and psychiatric disorders.
- Stem keywords: acquired global impairment, intellect, memory, personality, without impairment of consciousness
- Lead-in keywords: is
Question ID
QfqtALA8MHE0jOmZCo_mvT
Reference Book
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 1566-1568
E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 2 p. 1389-1391
E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 734-736
Practise the full RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-2)
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
More Delirium and Dementia Questions
- Disturbances of orientation, memory & intelligence are present in which of the following conditions?
- Which of the following features is present only in Dementia when compared with Delirium?
- Pseudo dementia is commonly seen in?
- is an acute disturbance of consciousness change in cognition that develops over a brief period?
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