IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg.Entrance-2026
Mental Health Nursing (E5)
Easy

One of the following is classified under disorders of affect:

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg.Entrance-2026

Explanation

  • Disorders of affect are primarily mood disorders, characterized by significant disturbances in a person's emotional state.
  • Mania is defined as a period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood and abnormally and persistently increased activity or energy.
  • This definition places Mania squarely within the category of affective disorders. It is a core component of Bipolar Affective Disorder.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: Neurosis is an older, broad term for a class of functional mental disorders involving distress but neither delusions nor hallucinations. It is not a primary disorder of affect but rather a category related to stress and anxiety.
  • Option B: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors). While it can cause emotional distress, its primary classification is as an anxiety-related disorder, not a mood disorder.
  • Option C: A phobia is an anxiety disorder defined by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation. The primary disturbance is fear and anxiety, not a generalized mood state like in affective disorders.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification of psychiatric disorders, specifically disorders of affect (mood disorders) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • Correctly classifying a patient's disorder is fundamental for a nurse to anticipate needs and plan care. A patient with mania requires interventions focused on safety, de-escalation, and managing impulsivity.
  • Understanding the classification helps in predicting medication types. Affective disorders like mania are treated with mood stabilizers (e.g., lithium), whereas anxiety disorders (OCD, phobias) are often treated with SSRIs and behavioral therapy.
  • What if a patient presents with symptoms of both mania and obsessive thoughts? This requires careful assessment. It could be a manic episode with racing thoughts that the patient misinterprets as obsessions, or it could be a co-occurring (comorbid) OCD and Bipolar Disorder, which would necessitate a more complex treatment plan.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the key concept in the question stem: 'disorders of affect'.
  • Recall or deduce the definition of this term. 'Affect' is the clinical term for mood, so 'disorders of affect' are 'mood disorders'.
  • Evaluate each option based on this definition.
  • Consider 'Neurosis': This is a broad, older term related to anxiety, not a specific mood disorder.
  • Consider 'Obsessive compulsive disorder' and 'Phobia': These are primarily characterized by anxiety and fear, not a pervasive mood state.
  • Consider 'Mania': This is defined by an elevated mood state, directly fitting the category of a mood (affective) disorder.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Classification of psychiatric disorders, specifically disorders of affect (mood disorders).
  • Stem keywords: disorders of affect, classified
  • Lead-in keywords: One of the following

Question ID

QH5ntL2eQjqWTKTunPZTr5

Reference Book

E6 Psychology Morgan King 9e Part 2 pp. 211-213, 223-225

E6 Pharmacology Nursing Lilley 11e Part 1 p. 269-271

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