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

Teaching the client about the history of OCD.

Assisting the client with relaxation techniques.

Providing information about medication options.

Initiating exposure therapy sessions.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Choice A rationale:

Teaching the client about the history of OCD might provide insight into the disorder's background, but it is not the priority when the client is currently experiencing distress. Addressing the immediate distress takes precedence over historical information.

Choice B rationale:

This choice is correct because relaxation techniques can help alleviate the client's distress in the moment. These techniques, such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness exercises, can help the client manage their anxiety and reduce the impact of obsessive thoughts.

Choice C rationale:

While providing information about medication options is important, it might not be the initial intervention when the client is in a state of distress. Medication discussions are typically part of a comprehensive treatment plan and should be addressed after addressing the client's immediate distress.

Choice D rationale:

Initiating exposure therapy sessions might exacerbate the client's distress at this point. Exposure therapy involves deliberately confronting feared situations, and it's important to prepare the client for this type of intervention before initiating it. Starting with relaxation techniques is a more appropriate approach.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

The statement "I always arrange my books on the shelf from tallest to shortest" doesn't indicate an obsession. This behavior might suggest a preference for orderliness or arranging things systematically, but it lacks the distressing, unwanted nature of obsessions.

Choice B rationale:

"I feel an overwhelming urge to wash my hands every 30 minutes" indicates a compulsion rather than an obsession. The urge to wash hands frequently is driven by the need to alleviate anxiety or distress, which is the hallmark of compulsive behaviors.

Choice C rationale:

"I have a ritual of counting to 10 before entering any room" is also a compulsion. The ritual of counting serves as a way to reduce anxiety or prevent a feared outcome associated with entering a room, suggesting a compulsive behavior.

Choice D rationale:

The statement "I keep having thoughts that my family will get hurt if I don't touch the doorknob three times" reflects an obsession. The distressing thought of family harm is the unwanted obsession, and the ritual of touching the doorknob three times is the compulsion aimed at reducing the anxiety caused by the obsession.

A. CBT involves exposing the individual to feared stimuli or situations. B. CBT primarily focuses on replacing distorted thoughts with unrealistic beliefs. C. Exposure and response prevention helps the individual habituate to anxiety. D. CBT aims to enhance positive emotional outcomes related to obsessions. E. Cognitive therapy in CBT challenges cognitive distortions underlying OCD.

Correct Answer is ["A","C","E"]

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) often involves exposing individuals to feared stimuli or situations in a controlled and gradual manner, a technique known as exposure therapy. This exposure helps individuals confront their anxieties and gradually reduce their distress over time. Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of CBT for anxiety disorders, including OCD.

Choice C rationale:

Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a critical component of CBT for OCD. This technique involves exposing the individual to anxiety-provoking situations or thoughts (exposure) while preventing the usual compulsive responses (response prevention). Through repeated exposures without engaging in compulsions, the individual learns that their anxiety naturally decreases over time, leading to habituation to the anxiety-provoking stimuli.

Choice E rationale:

Cognitive therapy within CBT aims to challenge and modify cognitive distortions and unrealistic beliefs that underlie OCD. Individuals with OCD often have distorted thought patterns, such as catastrophic thinking or black-and-white reasoning. Cognitive therapy helps individuals recognize and reframe these distorted thoughts, leading to more adaptive and realistic thinking patterns.

Choice B rationale:

This choice is not accurate. CBT does not primarily focus on replacing distorted thoughts with unrealistic beliefs. Instead, it focuses on identifying and modifying irrational or negative thought patterns.

Choice D rationale:

While CBT does aim to enhance positive emotional outcomes, this choice is not entirely accurate in describing the main goal of CBT for OCD. The primary goal of CBT is to reduce the symptoms and distress associated with obsessions and compulsions by addressing the cognitive and behavioral factors that maintain the disorder.

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

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is assessing a client who has been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Which statement by the client indicates an obsession?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

(Select All That Apply):. A nurse is assessing a group of clients for their understanding of treatment approaches for OCDs. Which options accurately describe cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and its components? Select all that apply.

Correct Answer is ["A","C","E"]

Explanation

A nurse is assisting a patient with OCD in developing a hierarchy of feared stimuli for exposure therapy. Which statement by the nurse is appropriate during this process?

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?

A nurse is caring for a client with OCD who is taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) The client reports that they are having difficulty sleeping. Which of the following interventions should the nurse recommend?

A nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCDs) Which brain circuit is thought to be involved in OCDs, and what are its main components responsible for regulating cognitive processes?

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 nurse is educating a group of nursing students about the differential diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCDs) in comparison to other mental disorders. Which factor helps differentiate OCDs from other mental disorders?

A client with OCD expresses concerns about their medication. Which statement by the client indicates a need for further education?

(Select All That Apply):. A nurse is assessing a client with suspected OCD. Which statements accurately describe characteristics of OCDs that help differentiate them from other mental disorders? Select all that apply.