Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

What term describes specific measurable symptoms expected to improve with medication?

1. Primary symptoms

2. Target symptoms

3. Critical symptoms

4. Secondary symptoms

The correct answer is: Target symptoms

The term that describes specific measurable symptoms expected to improve with medication is "target symptoms." This concept is commonly used in psychiatric and medical settings to identify which symptoms of a condition are most responsive to treatment. By establishing target symptoms, healthcare professionals can focus their treatment plans and assess the effectiveness of medications more clearly. For example, in the management of depression, if a patient lists symptoms such as low mood, loss of interest, and difficulty sleeping, the healthcare provider can determine which of these are target symptoms, particularly those that are most disruptive to the patient's daily life or those that medications are specifically designed to alleviate. In contrast to target symptoms, concepts like primary, critical, and secondary symptoms refer to different classifications of symptoms but do not specifically denote those that are expected to respond to medication. Primary symptoms are generally the main manifestations of an illness, critical symptoms may indicate immediate medical concerns, and secondary symptoms often arise as a consequence of primary symptoms or other underlying issues. Thus, focusing on target symptoms allows for a more goal-directed and measurable approach to treatment.