A nurse is assessing a client with schizophrenia who is taking risperidone. Which of the following side effects should the nurse monitor for?

Choice A reason: Interpersonal therapy focuses on relationships, not the cognitive distortions driving gambling disorder. Gambling involves dopamine-driven reward seeking, and while relationships may influence stress, addressing core beliefs about gambling is more effective for managing the addiction’s neurobiological basis.

Choice B reason: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) targets distorted beliefs in gambling disorder, such as illusions of control, addressing dopamine-driven reward seeking. By restructuring thoughts, CBT reduces compulsive behaviors, making it a primary, evidence-based intervention for addressing the psychological and neurological aspects of gambling addiction.

Choice C reason: Gamblers Anonymous promotes abstinence, not controlled gambling, which is unrealistic for a behavioral addiction. Controlled gambling contradicts recovery principles, as the disorder’s reward pathway dysregulation drives compulsive behavior, making this statement incorrect and misleading for treatment goals.

Choice D reason: Systematic desensitization is used for phobias, not gambling disorder. It involves gradual exposure to feared stimuli, irrelevant to gambling’s reward-driven compulsions. CBT is more appropriate, targeting cognitive distortions and behaviors, not anxiety-based avoidance seen in phobic disorders.

Choice A reason: Scheduling a follow-up visit is important for ongoing care but is not the priority immediately after an assault. Physical injuries or acute psychological trauma must be addressed first to ensure the client’s immediate safety and stability before planning long-term follow-up care.

Choice B reason: Providing information about support groups is valuable for long-term recovery but is not the first action. Acute physical and psychological needs, such as injuries or trauma responses, take precedence to stabilize the client before addressing psychosocial support resources.

Choice C reason: Asking about past stress coping mechanisms helps tailor psychological support but is not the priority in an emergency setting. Assessing for physical injuries is critical first, as assaults may cause trauma that requires immediate medical intervention to prevent complications or deterioration.

Choice D reason: Assessing for injuries is the priority after an assault, as physical trauma may be life-threatening. This aligns with the ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation) of emergency care, ensuring immediate stabilization. Injuries like internal bleeding or fractures must be identified and treated promptly to ensure safety.