Mr. L, who has a severe fear of needles, is hospitalized on your medical unit. The laboratory technician enters to draw blood for the routine CBC, and Mr. L begins to cry out, "Get away from me! I can't breathe! I'm having a heart attack!" What should be your first response to Mr. L?

Choice A reason: The 'thinking/content of thought' section of the Mental Health Status Examination assesses the logical process of thought, presence of delusions, obsessions, and preoccupations.

Choice B reason: 'Memory' assesses the person's ability to recall past events, which is not directly related to their current thought content.

Choice C reason: 'Judgment' evaluates the ability to make reasoned decisions, which, while important, is distinct from the content of thought.

Choice D reason: 'Speech and the ability to communicate' assesses the clarity, relevance, and coherence of speech, not the internal thought process.

Choice A reason: This response acknowledges the client's feelings without agreeing with the delusion or challenging their reality, which can help in building trust and rapport.

Choice B reason: Asking "Why do you think you are being lied about and poisoned?" could potentially reinforce the delusion and lead the client to further justify their beliefs.

Choice C reason: Directly telling the client they are mistaken can be confrontational and may damage the therapeutic relationship.

Choice D reason: Asking "Who is lying about you and trying to poison you?" can validate the delusion and is not a therapeutic response.