Which client diagnosis should a nurse associate with a decrease in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)?
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A
Alzheimers disease
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B
Schizophrenia
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C
Panic disorder
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D
Depression
In this situation, the nursing judgment that fits the stem is Panic disorder.
A. Alzheimers disease
This would apply in a different scenario where the idea in “Alzheimers disease” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.
B. Schizophrenia
This would apply in a different scenario where the idea in “Schizophrenia” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.
C. Panic disorder
This matches the stem because The nurse should associate a decrease in GABA with panic disorder. Enhancement of the GABA system is the mechanism of action by which benzodiazepines produce a calming effect, thus reducing anxiety. Alterations in the GABA system are also associated with movement disorders and epilepsy. Need: Physiological Integrity Linking neurotransmitter patterns to symptom clusters supports medication teaching and monitoring, including expected therapeutic effects and side-effect vigilance. From a nursing standpoint, this selection guides assessment and interventions toward what is most clinically meaningful in the moment—risk reduction, safety, accurate appraisal, and support for adaptive coping.
D. Depression
This could seem tempting if the idea in “Depression” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.
Conclusion
The scenario is best handled by identifying what the nurse must interpret or prioritize first and then choosing the statement that fits that requirement with the least distortion. The distractors have surface appeal, but they do not align as tightly with the clinical cue embedded in the stem.