A 28-year-old client with a diagnosis of Avoidant Personality Disorder tells the nurse, "I want to make friends. I'm too afraid they'll laugh at me or think I'm weak." Which nursing intervention is most appropriate to help this client begin developing healthier interpersonal relationships?

Encourage the client to explore childhood experiences that may have caused these fears.

Reassure the client that everyone feels insecure sometimes and they are overthinking the situation.

Advise the client to start attending large events to desensitize themselves to rejection.

Assist the client in identifying and challenging negative self-beliefs through gradual social exposure.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A reason: While exploring childhood experiences may provide insight into the origins of fear, this approach does not directly help the client build the confidence and skills needed to engage socially in the present. It may keep the focus on the past rather than promoting immediate coping strategies.

Choice B reason: Offering reassurance without addressing the underlying cognitive distortions minimizes the client’s distress and may come across as dismissive. This response fails to provide practical tools for overcoming fear of rejection.

Choice C reason: Encouraging participation in large social gatherings too quickly can overwhelm a client with avoidant traits. Such exposure without proper preparation and gradual buildup is more likely to increase anxiety and avoidance rather than reduce it.

Choice D reason: Supporting the client in recognizing and challenging self-defeating beliefs, while practicing gradual social exposure, is evidence-based and therapeutic. This method uses cognitive-behavioral strategies that are effective in reducing avoidance, building self-esteem, and encouraging healthier relationships.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: Schizophrenia rarely presents in early childhood; cases in preschoolers are extremely uncommon and considered childhood-onset schizophrenia.

Choice B reason: While symptoms may persist into later life, new-onset schizophrenia is unusual in older adults and should prompt investigation for other causes such as dementia or medical illness.

Choice C reason: Schizophrenia most commonly develops in late adolescence to early adulthood, with men typically diagnosed in their late teens to early 20s and women in their late 20s to early 30s.

A. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) B. Beta-blockers C. Diphenhydramine D. Benzodiazepines

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: SSRIs are antidepressants used to treat depression and anxiety disorders. They do not address extrapyramidal side effects like acute dystonia, so they would not be useful in this case.

Choice B reason: Beta-blockers are primarily used for cardiovascular conditions and akathisia (a sense of restlessness), but they are not the treatment of choice for acute dystonia.

Choice C reason: Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine with strong anticholinergic properties, is effective in treating acute dystonia by restoring the balance between dopamine and acetylcholine in the basal ganglia. This makes it the correct choice for managing the client’s symptoms.

Choice D reason: Benzodiazepines may help with agitation or anxiety, but they are not first-line treatment for acute dystonic reactions caused by antipsychotic medications.

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A 28-year-old client with a diagnosis of Avoidant Personality Disorder tells the nurse, "I want to make friends. I'm too afraid they'll laugh at me or think I'm weak." Which nursing intervention is most appropriate to help this client begin developing healthier interpersonal relationships?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is providing education to a group of staff members about schizophrenia. Which of the following age groups should the nurse include as the age when schizophrenia is typically diagnosed?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A client receiving a first-generation antipsychotic develops symptoms of acute dystonia, including muscle spasms and neck stiffness. Which type of medication should the nurse anticipate administering to manage these side effects?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

According to psychoanalytic theory, which of the following best describes the role of the superego in personality development and mental health?

A mental health nurse is working with a client experiencing severe depression. The nurse wants to provide supportive care while avoiding becoming emotionally overwhelmed. Which statement best reflects the difference between sympathy and empathy in this context?

A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The CIA is monitoring us through the fluorescent lights in this room. Be careful what you say." Which response by the nurse would be most therapeutic?

A 52-year-old male with a long history of alcohol use disorder is admitted to the hospital and begins showing signs of Delirium Tremens, including agitation, tremors, tachycardia, and hallucinations. Which medication should the nurse anticipate administering to manage these symptoms?

A nurse observes a hospitalized client grabbing snacks from other patients' trays, despite being told not to. When confronted, the client says, "I was hungry, so I took it." Based on Freud's psychoanalytic theory, which part of the personality is most likely influencing the client's behavior?

A 25-year-old client is hospitalized for severe anxiety. During the assessment, the nurse notices the client clutches a childhood stuffed animal and speaks in a childlike voice when discussing stressful life events. Which defense mechanism is the client most likely using?

A 6-year-old child is showing behaviors such as excessive handwashing and reluctance to use the bathroom independently. According to Freud’s psychosexual theory, fixation at which stage is most likely contributing to these behaviors?

During an interview, a patient attempts to shift the focus from self to the nurse by asking personal questions. The nurse should respond by saying: