Treatment Modalities and Interventions Flashcards
7 cards from real CARN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Treatment Modalities and Interventions flashcards as text
A patient in opioid withdrawal is prescribed clonidine. The nurse understands this medication manages withdrawal by:
Answer: Suppressing noradrenergic hyperactivity in the locus coeruleus
Clonidine is an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that suppresses the noradrenergic overactivity responsible for many opioid withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, sweating, and tachycardia.
A nurse is facilitating a Matrix Model group for stimulant use disorder. This evidence-based approach combines which elements?
Answer: CBT, family education, 12-step facilitation, and relapse prevention
The Matrix Model integrates cognitive-behavioral therapy, relapse prevention, family involvement, and 12-step participation into a structured outpatient program for stimulant use disorder.
When conducting a SBIRT screening, a patient scores 8–15 on the AUDIT-C alcohol screening tool. The appropriate nurse response is:
Answer: Provide a brief motivational intervention and refer if needed
An AUDIT score of 8–15 indicates hazardous or harmful drinking warranting a brief intervention; scores of 20+ indicate possible dependence requiring referral.
A nurse is working with a patient who relapses after 6 months of sobriety. Using a therapeutic frame consistent with addictions nursing, the nurse should:
Answer: Explore the relapse as a learning opportunity and adjust the treatment plan
Relapse is viewed as a common part of the recovery process; the therapeutic response is to analyze what happened, reinforce engagement, and revise the plan accordingly.
Which pharmacotherapy is specifically indicated to reduce heavy drinking days in patients with alcohol use disorder who do not require complete abstinence?
Answer: Naltrexone
Naltrexone reduces the rewarding effects of alcohol and has demonstrated efficacy in reducing heavy drinking days even when abstinence is not the stated goal.
A patient in recovery from alcohol use disorder is prescribed acamprosate (Campral). The nurse explains it works by:
Answer: Restoring glutamate balance disrupted by chronic alcohol use
Acamprosate modulates glutamate neurotransmission dysregulated by chronic alcohol exposure, reducing the post-withdrawal hyperexcitability that drives protracted abstinence symptoms.
A patient with co-occurring PTSD and alcohol use disorder is best served by which treatment approach according to current evidence?
Answer: Integrated dual-diagnosis treatment addressing both conditions concurrently
Integrated treatment that simultaneously addresses co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders produces better outcomes than sequential or parallel treatment.