[CliffsTestPrep] American BookWorks Corporation - CliffsTestPrep PCAT_ 5 Practice Tests (2006, Cliffs Notes)

Part II: Practice Tests
137. Silence can
A. be an effective way to punctuate a point.
B. be a way to give yourself a chance to catch
your breath.
C. be uncomfortable to the audience.
D. contribute to infections of the pharynx.
Passage 4
triggered by something in the environment and may
respond favorable to simply removing the trigger.
Thus, before treating with medication, it is important
to assess the environmental impact on the patient
by examining their unmet needs and determining
(1)
(2)
As the Baby Boomers age and the population of
elderly patients increases, many questions and challenges
face physicians. In addition to the cognitive
deficits associated with this neurodegenerative
condition, AD patients, frequently experience noncognitive
symptoms, notably psychosis. The question
that is raised is what is the best way to treat
these patients. Most doctors believe that the most
important thing is to give medication when the benefits
exceed the risks.
There is, however, a lack of published evidence
on the use of atypical antipsychotic in elderly patients
with dementia. This makes it difficult to fully
assess the associated risks and benefits of medications.
The psychosis associated with dementia is
generally thought to be different from other psychoses
due to disease’s like Parkinson’s or schizophrenia.
However, it is unclear whether the delusions
and behaviors of AD patients are true psychotic delusions
or are due to cognitive deficits due to neurodegeneration.
In many cases, the behavior could be
(3)
whether subtle changes to their surrounding could
minimize psychotic behaviors. Psychosocial and
psychotherapeutic interventions should always be
considered first before psychopharmaceutical treatments.
For example, if a patient is physically attacking
someone, perhaps medication should be used
first to treat the aggression, but if someone is shouting
and pacing, other interventions that offer the
same benefits but are less risky would be preferable.
When pharmaceuticals are needed, evidence has
shown that risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, and
aripiprazole are effective. Risperidone seems particularly
effective in improving behavioral pathology
and diminishing aggressive behavior. However, it
failed to diminish kicking or pushing, the making
of strange noises, negativism, visual hallucinations,
and suspicious or paranoid behaviors. Furthermore,
risperidone and to some extent olanzapine has been
shown to increase extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS).
The newer atypical antipsycholitics have not been
shown to cause EPS.
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