A client is diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Which signs/symptoms should the nurse expect the client to exhibit?

Choice A reason : Acting as if the hallucination is real can validate the client's false perceptions and potentially reinforce the hallucination. It is important to maintain a sense of reality and not to enter into the client's hallucinatory experience.

Choice B reason : Instructing the client to argue with the voices is not therapeutic. It can increase the client's agitation and anxiety, and it does not help in distinguishing reality from hallucinations.

Choice C reason : While it is important to understand the client's experience, asking direct questions about the hallucination may lead the client to focus more on the hallucination, which can reinforce its presence. The nurse should focus on reality-based topics.

Choice D reason : This is the correct action. The nurse should gently and firmly reassure the client that the hallucination is not real and is a symptom of their illness. This helps to orient the client to reality and can reduce the distress associated with hallucinations.

Choice A reason: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that the individual feels the urge to repeat over and over. While OCD is a separate condition that can co-occur with many disorders, it is not commonly associated as a comorbidity with histrionic personality disorder⁴⁵.

Choice B reason: Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It is not typically associated with histrionic personality disorder, which is characterized by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behaviors⁴⁵.

Choice C reason: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a common comorbidity with histrionic personality disorder. Individuals with histrionic personality disorder may experience high levels of anxiety, which can manifest as GAD. This anxiety often relates to fears of rejection or not being the center of attention⁴⁵.

Choice D reason: Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of body weight. It is more commonly associated with other conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive and avoidant personality disorders, rather than histrionic personality disorder⁴⁵.