A nurse is caring for a client with OCD who is refusing to leave their room because they are afraid of contamination. Which of the following interventions should the nurse prioritize?
Encourage the client to talk about their fears.
Set limits on the client's behavior.
Assist the client in gradual exposure to feared situations.
Provide the client with relaxation techniques.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
Encouraging the client to "talk about their fears" might be a beneficial intervention in some cases, but for individuals with OCD who are struggling with compulsive behaviors driven by their fears, directly addressing exposure to those fears is a more effective approach.
Choice B rationale:
While setting limits on the client's behavior is important, it may not be the priority in this situation. Instead, assisting the client in gradually confronting their fears through exposure therapy can help them develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Choice C rationale:
The correct response emphasizes gradual exposure therapy, a well-established approach in treating OCD. This intervention helps the client confront their fears in a controlled and systematic manner, leading to desensitization and reduction in their anxiety over time.
Choice D rationale:
Providing relaxation techniques can be helpful for managing anxiety, but for someone with OCD who is avoiding situations due to contamination fears, the primary intervention should focus on exposure therapy to address the specific OCD-related fears.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","C","E"]
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) often involves exposing individuals to feared stimuli or situations in a controlled and gradual manner, a technique known as exposure therapy. This exposure helps individuals confront their anxieties and gradually reduce their distress over time. Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of CBT for anxiety disorders, including OCD.
Choice C rationale:
Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a critical component of CBT for OCD. This technique involves exposing the individual to anxiety-provoking situations or thoughts (exposure) while preventing the usual compulsive responses (response prevention). Through repeated exposures without engaging in compulsions, the individual learns that their anxiety naturally decreases over time, leading to habituation to the anxiety-provoking stimuli.
Choice E rationale:
Cognitive therapy within CBT aims to challenge and modify cognitive distortions and unrealistic beliefs that underlie OCD. Individuals with OCD often have distorted thought patterns, such as catastrophic thinking or black-and-white reasoning. Cognitive therapy helps individuals recognize and reframe these distorted thoughts, leading to more adaptive and realistic thinking patterns.
Choice B rationale:
This choice is not accurate. CBT does not primarily focus on replacing distorted thoughts with unrealistic beliefs. Instead, it focuses on identifying and modifying irrational or negative thought patterns.
Choice D rationale:
While CBT does aim to enhance positive emotional outcomes, this choice is not entirely accurate in describing the main goal of CBT for OCD. The primary goal of CBT is to reduce the symptoms and distress associated with obsessions and compulsions by addressing the cognitive and behavioral factors that maintain the disorder.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
This statement indicates a need for further education. For medications used to treat OCD, consistent and regular dosing is important for their effectiveness. Taking medication only when feeling anxious could lead to inconsistent blood levels of the medication, potentially diminishing its therapeutic effects.
Choice B rationale:
The statement "I should report any side effects to my doctor" is accurate and does not indicate a need for further education. Reporting side effects to the doctor is a responsible and informed approach to medication management.
Choice C rationale:
The statement "It's important to continue taking my medication even if I start feeling better" is correct. Often, individuals with OCD may experience improvement in symptoms but need to continue the medication regimen to maintain the positive effects and prevent relapse.
Choice D rationale:
The statement "I'll stop taking my medication if I experience any discomfort" indicates a need for further education. Discomfort is a broad term that could encompass various mild side effects or adjustments that might be necessary when starting a new medication. It's important not to discontinue medication abruptly without consulting a healthcare provider.
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