One of the goals of a therapeutic community is for patients to become more autonomous and accept self-responsibility. Which option below best encourages fulfillment of this goal?

Choice A Reason:

Triage and stabilization of the acute symptoms are a priority describes the focus of psychiatric emergency care. Psychiatric emergency care focuses on the rapid assessment, triage, and stabilization of individuals experiencing acute psychiatric symptoms or crises. The primary goal is to address immediate safety concerns, stabilize the individual's condition, and determine the appropriate level of care or intervention. This may involve crisis intervention, brief assessment, and referral to appropriate services.

Choice B Reason:

A nurse visits one to three times a week to assess for extreme agitation does not describe the focus of psychiatric emergency care. This describes a more routine or outpatient assessment schedule rather than the urgent and immediate focus of psychiatric emergency care.

Choice C Reason:

Overnight short-term observations are 1 to 3 days in duration does not describe the focus of psychiatric emergency care. This refers to a short-term observation period, which might occur in various psychiatric settings, but it does not specifically address the urgency of psychiatric emergencies.

Choice D Reason:

Antipsychotic medications are administered does not describe the focus of psychiatric emergency care. Administering antipsychotic medications is a treatment approach that may be part of the overall psychiatric care plan, but it does not specifically capture the immediate triage and stabilization focus of psychiatric emergency care.

Choice A Reason:

Helping the patient to identify personal strengths and limitations is appropriate. This helps build a positive foundation for the therapeutic relationship by focusing on the patient's strengths and empowering them in the process.

Choice B Reason:

Explore, in depth, the problems faced by the patient is inappropriate. While understanding the patient's concerns is important, diving too deeply into problems at the beginning might be overwhelming. It's often more effective to gradually explore issues as trust is established.

Choice C Reason:

Clarifying how long the relationship will last is inappropriate. Specifying the duration of the therapeutic relationship may create anxiety for the patient. Therapeutic relationships are often open-ended, and discussing termination should occur at an appropriate time in the future.

Choice D Reason:

Reviewing the terms of confidentiality is appropriate. Clarifying the terms of confidentiality is important to establish trust and inform the patient about the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship.

Choice E Reason:

Helping the patient prioritize and revise ineffective coping behaviors is appropriate. Collaboratively working with the patient to identify and address ineffective coping behaviors is a therapeutic intervention that supports the patient in their journey toward improved mental health.