A nurse is providing care for a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Which statement by the nurse would be most appropriate in this situation?
"You need to stop these behaviors immediately to overcome your disorder.”
"Try to distract yourself whenever you feel the urge to perform a compulsion.”
"It's important to give in to your compulsions to relieve your anxiety.”
"Let's work together to develop strategies to gradually reduce these behaviors over time.”
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A rationale:
The nurse should not tell the client to stop their behaviors immediately, as this approach is likely to increase anxiety and distress. Individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often find it challenging to abruptly stop their compulsions, and attempting to do so can lead to heightened anxiety.
Choice B rationale:
Distracting oneself from the urge to perform compulsions might provide temporary relief, but it does not address the underlying issues of OCD. It is essential to work on strategies that target the reduction of compulsions and the management of anxiety associated with them.
Choice C rationale:
Giving in to compulsions might temporarily relieve anxiety, but it reinforces the cycle of OCD behavior. Encouraging the client to give in to compulsions is counterproductive to the treatment of OCD, which involves breaking the pattern of compulsive behavior.
Choice D rationale:
This is the correct choice. Collaboratively developing strategies to gradually reduce compulsive behaviors is a standard approach in treating OCD. This method is aligned with exposure and response prevention therapy, a well-established treatment for OCD. By gradually facing the situations that trigger obsessive thoughts and then refraining from performing compulsions, clients can learn to manage their anxiety and reduce their reliance on compulsive behaviors.
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 D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
The statement "I always arrange my books on the shelf from tallest to shortest" doesn't indicate an obsession. This behavior might suggest a preference for orderliness or arranging things systematically, but it lacks the distressing, unwanted nature of obsessions.
Choice B rationale:
"I feel an overwhelming urge to wash my hands every 30 minutes" indicates a compulsion rather than an obsession. The urge to wash hands frequently is driven by the need to alleviate anxiety or distress, which is the hallmark of compulsive behaviors.
Choice C rationale:
"I have a ritual of counting to 10 before entering any room" is also a compulsion. The ritual of counting serves as a way to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared outcome associated with entering a room, suggesting a compulsive behavior.
Choice D rationale:
The statement "I keep having thoughts that my family will get hurt if I don't touch the doorknob three times" reflects an obsession. The distressing thought of family harm is the unwanted obsession, and the ritual of touching the doorknob three times is the compulsion aimed at reducing the anxiety caused by the obsession.
Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.
Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today
Report Wrong Answer on the Current Question
Do you disagree with the answer? If yes, what is your expected answer? Explain.
Kindly be descriptive with the issue you are facing.