A nurse is caring for a client. Which of the following client statements should the nurse identify as an indication of anorexia nervosa?

Rationale:

A. Defense mechanisms and coping strategies are not the same. Defense mechanisms are unconscious processes used to protect the individual from anxiety and internal conflicts, while coping strategies are conscious efforts to handle stress.

B. Defense mechanisms can be maladaptive and may not always help clients positively deal with stress. They can sometimes hinder adaptive functioning.

C. Defense mechanisms are indeed influenced by neurological and psychological growth. As individuals age, they develop more sophisticated and adaptive mechanisms.

D. Maladaptive defense mechanisms do not improve mental well-being; instead, they can often worsen mental health and impair functioning.

E. Adaptive defense mechanisms, such as sublimation and rationalization, help individuals manage stress more effectively and transform challenges into manageable situations.

F. Adaptive defense mechanisms are characteristic of more mature psychological functioning, reflecting a higher level of emotional resilience and coping.

Rationale:

A. This statement undermines the importance of therapeutic communication, which is essential in building trust and understanding with clients.

B. Therapeutic communication is indeed a fundamental part of mental health nursing and plays a crucial role in establishing a therapeutic relationship that supports the client's emotional and psychological well-being.

C. Therapeutic communication is vital in nurse-client interactions and is integral to effective mental health care, not just nurse-to-nurse communication.

D. Therapeutic communication in healthcare requires specific skills and approaches that differ from everyday conversation, emphasizing the need for sensitivity, empathy, and active listening.