The mother of a child who was killed in an automobile accident is diag

The mother of a child who was killed in an automobile accident is diagnosed with excessive grief. The nurse realizes that this diagnosis increases her risk of:

1. Attempting suicide
2. Developing anorexia nervosa
3. Becoming chronically depressed
4. Developing a psychiatric phobia

ANSWER

ANS: 1
Normal grief responses, when experienced in excess, become overwhelming. People who exhibit very intense emotions and severe symptoms lose control, appear deeply traumatized, or may be-come suicidal, requiring medication or stabilization before they are able to begin the healing pro-cess. Depression is possible but is triggered by a variety of events. Grief is not the typical trigger for either anorexia nervosa or phobias.