The nurse is teaching a client with an eating disorder about cognitive restructuring. Which statement by the client indicates understanding of this technique?
“I need to challenge my negative thoughts about food.”
“I will avoid foods that trigger my anxiety.”
“I will reward myself for eating healthy.”
“I should focus on my feelings when I eat.”
The Correct Answer is A
Cognitive restructuring is a central component of CBT that challenges and replaces negative or distorted thinking patterns. It teaches clients to identify maladaptive thoughts about self, body, and food, and replace them with more realistic, constructive beliefs. This process helps reduce disordered behaviors.
Rationale for correct answers
A. Challenging distortions is the core mechanism in restructuring, directly targeting the thoughts that drive disordered eating.
Rationale for incorrect answers
B. Avoidance supports maladaptive patterns and is counterproductive.
C. Rewarding behavior is behavioral reinforcement, not cognitive work.
D. Focusing on feelings doesn’t change thought patterns, which is the goal here.
Take Home Points
- Cognitive restructuring challenges disordered thinking.
- It’s essential in treating eating disorders within CBT.
- Avoidance reinforces negative associations.
- Self-reward and mindfulness are helpful but not cognitive restructuring.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Arbitrary inference is a cognitive distortion where a conclusion is drawn without evidence or in the absence of sufficient facts. It reflects irrational assumptions, often seen in anxiety and depressive disorders. The mind fills in gaps with negative beliefs not supported by reality.
Rationale for correct answers
A. Jumping to conclusions without facts is the hallmark of arbitrary inference, evident in assuming infidelity without proof.
Rationale for incorrect answers
B. Selective abstraction focuses on one detail, not unfounded assumptions.
C. Magnification exaggerates importance, but the issue here is the leap in logic.
D. Minimization downplays positive events or achievements, which is not the case.
Take Home Points
- Arbitrary inference is making assumptions without facts.
- It's common in paranoid or anxious thinking.
- Cognitive therapy addresses these thought errors directly.
- Recognizing faulty conclusions improves emotional regulation.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Cognitive therapy aims to identify and modify distorted thinking patterns that lead to dysfunctional emotions and behaviors. It focuses on the present, is highly structured, and emphasizes reality testing of beliefs. This therapy is effective for depression, anxiety, and personality disorders, and often includes homework assignments to reinforce learning.
Rationale for correct answers
A. Thought identification and correction are central to cognitive therapy’s goal of improving emotional regulation through mental restructuring.
Rationale for incorrect answers
B. Insight into unconscious conflict is associated with psychoanalysis, not cognitive therapy.
C. Coping improvement is a secondary effect, not the direct goal.
D. Behavior change is part of CBT, but cognitive therapy specifically targets thinking.
Take Home Points
- Cognitive therapy targets how thoughts affect emotions.
- It focuses on present thinking, not past experiences.
- Distorted beliefs are identified and challenged.
- It's effective for a range of mood and anxiety disorders.
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