A client with agoraphobia states, "I am afraid of being in places where I can't escape easily." Which of the following responses by the nurse is appropriate?
"It's important to confront your fears and gradually expose yourself to the situations that make you anxious.".
"It's best to avoid situations that trigger your anxiety to prevent panic attacks.".
"You should try to distract yourself when you start feeling anxious in those situations.".
"You should stay home and avoid going out to prevent any potential panic attacks.".
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
This response is appropriate as it aligns with the principles of exposure therapy. Exposure therapy involves gradually confronting feared situations to reduce anxiety over time. By encouraging the client to face their fears and expose themselves to anxiety-provoking situations in a controlled manner, they can learn that their anxiety decreases over time.
Choice B rationale:
This response is counterproductive and not recommended. Avoiding situations that trigger anxiety can actually reinforce the fear and make it more difficult for the client to cope with their agoraphobia. Avoidance prevents the client from learning that their fear is manageable.
Choice C rationale:
While distraction techniques can be helpful for managing anxiety in the moment, they do not address the underlying fear associated with agoraphobia. Encouraging distraction as the primary coping strategy might hinder the client's progress in overcoming their fear.
Choice D rationale:
This response promotes avoidance, which is not a recommended approach in treating anxiety disorders like agoraphobia. Avoiding situations altogether can worsen the fear and limit the client's ability to engage in normal activities.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Psychoeducation (Choice A) involves providing the client with information about their condition, treatment options, and coping strategies. It can help the client understand their phobia better and empower them to take an active role in managing their fear.
Choice B rationale:
Cognitive therapy (Choice B) focuses on identifying and challenging irrational thoughts and beliefs related to the phobia. By changing thought patterns, clients can learn to respond to their phobic triggers in a more rational and less anxiety-provoking manner.
Choice C rationale:
Behavioral therapy (Choice C), including exposure therapy, is a cornerstone of phobia treatment. It involves gradually exposing the client to the feared stimulus in a controlled manner, helping them learn that their anxiety decreases over time.
Choice D rationale:
Relaxation therapy (Choice D) teaches clients relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and meditation. These techniques can help reduce overall anxiety levels and provide a sense of control in anxiety-provoking situations.
Choice E rationale:
All of the above (Choice E) is the correct answer because each of the listed non-pharmacological therapies (psychoeducation, cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, relaxation therapy) plays a valuable role in helping clients cope with their phobias. They can be used in combination to provide comprehensive support for the client's needs.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
While this characteristic is important, it doesn't distinguish specific phobia from other mental disorders. It's a common requirement for many mental disorders to ensure the symptoms are not transient.
Choice B rationale:
This characteristic is more aligned with Social Phobia, where individuals fear negative evaluation in social situations, rather than Specific Phobia, which involves fear of specific situations or objects.
Choice C rationale:
The persistence of fear or anxiety for at least 6 months is a defining feature of specific phobias. This chronic nature helps differentiate it from transient fears or anxieties.
Choice D rationale:
This characteristic is related to Agoraphobia, where individuals fear situations in which they might develop incapacitating symptoms and lack available help. It doesn't specifically describe the fear of certain situations or objects seen in specific phobias.
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