A woman is in treatment for an anxiety disorder. Her history reveals that she was sexually abused repeatedly by her husband. Which of the following interventions would be appropriate in relation to this piece of data?
Avoid discussing the abuse so as not to upset her.
Request an anxiolytic to reduce her anxiety levels.
Help her explore her role in perpetuating the abuse.
Encourage her to talk about feelings related to the abuse.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: Avoiding discussion invalidates the client’s experience and prevents therapeutic processing. Silence can reinforce shame and isolation.
Choice B reason: Medication may reduce anxiety symptoms but does not address the trauma or its psychological impact. It is not the primary intervention for abuse history.
Choice C reason: Suggesting the client has a role in perpetuating abuse is victim-blaming and unethical. Abuse is the responsibility of the perpetrator, not the victim.
Choice D reason: Encouraging the client to talk about feelings related to the abuse promotes healing, validates her experience, and helps integrate trauma into therapy. This is the therapeutic and ethical approach.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Clients with illness anxiety disorder do show distress, but the distress is related to fear of disease rather than the physical symptoms themselves.
Choice B reason: Not all of the statements are true. For example, clients do not fabricate symptoms for attention; their fears are genuine.
Choice C reason: Exaggeration or fabrication is more consistent with factitious disorder or malingering, not illness anxiety disorder.
Choice D reason: Interpreting normal body sensations as signs of disease is the hallmark of illness anxiety disorder. Clients misinterpret benign sensations such as palpitations or headaches as evidence of serious illness.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: La belle indifference refers to a paradoxical lack of concern about significant symptoms, often seen in conversion disorder. The graduate’s calm acceptance of sudden blindness reflects this phenomenon, where the emotional response is disproportionately unconcerned compared to the severity of the symptom.
Choice B reason: Malingering involves intentional production of symptoms for external gain, such as avoiding responsibilities or obtaining benefits. In this case, there is no evidence of intentional deception or external motivation, making this option incorrect.
Choice C reason: Undoing is a defense mechanism where a person attempts to reverse or negate unacceptable thoughts or behaviors. It does not apply here, as the graduate is not attempting to counteract or "undo" anything but is instead indifferent to the symptom.
Choice D reason: Regression involves reverting to earlier developmental behaviors when faced with stress. The graduate’s response does not demonstrate childlike or regressive behavior but rather indifference, making this option inaccurate.
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