A client with OCD is concerned about their intrusive thoughts and the impact on their daily life. How should the nurse respond to the client's concerns?

"You should ignore these thoughts; they will eventually go away.”

"Intrusive thoughts are a normal part of everyone's thinking.”

"Let's work on strategies to manage these thoughts and reduce their impact.”

"There's no need to worry about these thoughts; they won't affect you.”

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A rationale:

Telling the client to ignore the intrusive thoughts is not a therapeutic response. It dismisses the client's concerns and offers no constructive help in managing their distressing thoughts.

Choice B rationale:

Stating that intrusive thoughts are a normal part of everyone's thinking might invalidate the client's distress and does not provide practical strategies for dealing with their OCD symptoms.

Choice C rationale:

This is the correct choice. Acknowledging the client's concerns and offering to work on strategies to manage the thoughts is a therapeutic response. Collaboratively addressing the issue empowers the client to take an active role in their treatment.

Choice D rationale:

Dismissing the client's worries by saying there's no need to worry about the thoughts undermines their feelings and doesn't address the distress caused by the thoughts.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

"Exposure and response prevention involves avoiding the triggers that lead to obsessions and compulsions." This statement is incorrect. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for OCD involves facing the situations or triggers that lead to anxiety and obsessions. Instead of avoiding these triggers, individuals purposefully confront them to gradually reduce their anxiety response and break the cycle of performing compulsions in response to obsessions.

Choice B rationale:

"During exposure and response prevention, you'll engage in the compulsive behaviors to reduce anxiety gradually." This statement is also incorrect. ERP focuses on gradually reducing and eventually eliminating compulsive behaviors, not engaging in them. The goal is to help individuals learn that their anxiety naturally decreases over time when they refrain from performing the compulsions, ultimately breaking the connection between obsessions and anxiety-driven behaviors.

Choice C rationale:

"Exposure and response prevention helps you face the situations that trigger anxiety while preventing the compulsive behaviors." This statement accurately explains how exposure and response prevention works in treating OCD. During ERP, individuals purposefully confront situations that trigger their obsessions while refraining from engaging in compulsive behaviors. By doing so, they learn that their anxiety decreases without the need for compulsions, helping to weaken the link between obsessions and anxiety.

Choice D rationale:

"In exposure and response prevention, we eliminate all exposure to the situations that cause distress and anxiety." This statement is incorrect. ERP involves controlled exposure to distressing situations or triggers, not complete avoidance. The goal is to help individuals build tolerance to the anxiety triggered by these situations while resisting the urge to perform compulsions.

A. The obsessions or compulsions are connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent. B. The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at achieving perfectionism and high standards. C. The disturbance must be attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition. D. The obsessive-compulsive symptoms are better explained by the symptoms of another mental disorder.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

This choice accurately reflects one of the criteria for diagnosing OCD. The obsessions (intrusive and distressing thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts) experienced by individuals with OCD are usually connected to what they are trying to neutralize or prevent. For instance, if someone has an obsessive fear of contamination, their compulsions might involve excessive hand washing to neutralize this fear.

Choice B rationale:

While perfectionism and high standards can be associated with OCD, they are not a primary diagnostic criterion. OCD is characterized by the presence of obsessions and compulsions that cause distress and significantly interfere with a person's daily life.

Choice C rationale:

This option is incorrect. The disturbance in OCD is not attributed to the physiological effects of substances or other medical conditions. It is a distinct mental health condition that is not solely a result of substance use or another medical issue.

Choice D rationale:

This option is incorrect. The symptoms of OCD should not be better explained by the symptoms of another mental disorder. While comorbidities can exist, OCD has its own unique set of obsessions and compulsions that differentiate it from other mental disorders.

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A client with OCD is concerned about their intrusive thoughts and the impact on their daily life. How should the nurse respond to the client's concerns?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A client with OCD is undergoing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) The client asks the nurse, "How does exposure and response prevention work in treating OCD?" Which response by the nurse accurately explains this aspect of CBT?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is explaining the diagnostic criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to a group of nursing students. Which of the following statements accurately reflects one of the criteria for diagnosing OCD?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A client with OCD is telling the nurse about their symptoms. Which of the following statements is most likely made by the client?

A nurse is assessing a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) The client reports that they have been having recurrent thoughts about contamination. Which of the following is the most appropriate nursing diagnosis for this client?

A client is being evaluated for potential OCD. The nurse explains the differential diagnosis process. Which observation supports the diagnosis of OCD rather than another mental disorder?

A client with OCD is experiencing distress and anxiety due to obsessions. Which intervention should the nurse prioritize to reduce the client's distress?

A nurse is caring for a client with OCD who has a compulsion to wash their hands repeatedly. Which of the following interventions should the nurse prioritize?

(Select all that apply):. A nurse is caring for a client with an eating disorder. What responsibilities should the nurse collaborate on with the multidisciplinary team? (Choose three.)

A nurse is providing care for a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Which statement by the nurse would be most appropriate in this situation?

A nurse is caring for a client with OCD who is receiving cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) Which of the following interventions is the nurse most likely to use?