A nurse is providing care to a client with trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder) What intervention would be most appropriate to include in the client's care plan?
Encouraging the client to suppress the urge to pull hair whenever possible.
Exploring ways to camouflage the hair loss and lessen its visibility.
Assisting the client in finding replacement behaviors for hair-pulling.
Suggesting the client avoid mirrors to decrease the focus on appearance.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
Encouraging suppression of the urge to pull hair might worsen the client's anxiety and tension associated with trichotillomania. This approach may not address the underlying issues and could lead to increased distress.
Choice B rationale:
Camouflaging hair loss can be a practical approach, but it does not address the compulsive behavior itself. It focuses on hiding the consequences of the disorder rather than addressing the core issue.
Choice C rationale:
Assisting the client in finding replacement behaviors is the most appropriate intervention. This approach helps redirect the urge to pull hair into healthier alternatives, helping the client manage the compulsive behavior in a constructive manner.
Choice D rationale:
Avoiding mirrors might be counterproductive. For some individuals with trichotillomania, avoiding mirrors might increase anxiety and preoccupation, as they may feel disconnected from their appearance. It's important to address the underlying behavior rather than avoiding triggers.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
This choice accurately reflects one of the criteria for diagnosing OCD. The obsessions (intrusive and distressing thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts) experienced by individuals with OCD are usually connected to what they are trying to neutralize or prevent. For instance, if someone has an obsessive fear of contamination, their compulsions might involve excessive hand washing to neutralize this fear.
Choice B rationale:
While perfectionism and high standards can be associated with OCD, they are not a primary diagnostic criterion. OCD is characterized by the presence of obsessions and compulsions that cause distress and significantly interfere with a person's daily life.
Choice C rationale:
This option is incorrect. The disturbance in OCD is not attributed to the physiological effects of substances or other medical conditions. It is a distinct mental health condition that is not solely a result of substance use or another medical issue.
Choice D rationale:
This option is incorrect. The symptoms of OCD should not be better explained by the symptoms of another mental disorder. While comorbidities can exist, OCD has its own unique set of obsessions and compulsions that differentiate it from other mental disorders.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
"SSRIs primarily target glutamate modulation in the brain." This statement is inaccurate. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) primarily target the modulation of serotonin levels in the brain, not glutamate. These medications work by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, which increases the availability of serotonin in the synaptic cleft and helps regulate mood and anxiety.
Choice B rationale:
"SSRIs work by increasing the availability of serotonin in the brain to reduce obsessions and compulsions." This statement accurately describes the role of SSRIs in treating OCD. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in mood regulation, and imbalances in serotonin have been implicated in OCD. By increasing the availability of serotonin in the brain, SSRIs can help reduce the frequency and intensity of obsessions and compulsions.
Choice C rationale:
"SSRIs are used to enhance positive emotional outcomes in individuals with OCD." This statement is not accurate. While SSRIs can improve mood and reduce anxiety, their primary role in treating OCD is to alleviate the symptoms of obsessions and compulsions by affecting neurotransmitter levels. They are not specifically used to enhance positive emotional outcomes.
Choice D rationale:
"SSRIs are reserved for individuals who have ego-syntonic obsessions and compulsions." This statement is incorrect. Ego-syntonic obsessions and compulsions are those that are consistent with a person's self-image and beliefs, and individuals may not feel a strong need to resist or change them. SSRIs are used to treat both ego-dystonic (inconsistent with self-image) and ego-syntonic obsessions and compulsions in OCD, as these medications target the underlying neurochemical imbalances that contribute to the disorder's symptoms.
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