A mental health nurse is teaching a female client who has an anxiety disorder about alprazolam.


Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?

Choice A rationale: Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder where the person fears and avoids places or situations that might cause them to panic, feel trapped, or helpless. The goal of treatment for agoraphobia is to help the person feel less anxious and fearful about being in places or situations that they perceive as difficult to escape from. This is often achieved through a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication. In CBT, the person learns to understand and change thought patterns that lead to troublesome feelings, behaviors, and symptoms.

Gradual exposure to the feared situation, under controlled conditions, can help the person gain better control over their anxiety. Therefore, the statement “I plan to sit on a park bench for a few minutes each day” indicates an understanding of the goals of treatment as it suggests a willingness to gradually expose oneself to feared situations.

Choice B rationale: The statement “I can try participating in group therapy every week” does not necessarily indicate an understanding of the goals of treatment for agoraphobia. While group therapy can be beneficial for many mental health conditions, it is not specific to the treatment of agoraphobia. In the context of agoraphobia, the focus of treatment is more on individual cognitive-behavioral therapy and gradual exposure to feared situations.

Choice C rationale: The statement “I will join a book club in my neighborhood” does not necessarily indicate an understanding of the goals of treatment for agoraphobia. Joining a book club could potentially provide social support and a sense of community, which can be beneficial for mental health in general. However, it does not specifically address the fears and avoidance behaviors associated with agoraphobia.

Choice D rationale: The statement “I should avoid entering elevators and other closed spaces” indicates a misunderstanding of the goals of treatment for agoraphobia. Avoidance of feared situations is a common symptom of agoraphobia, and treatment aims to reduce this avoidance behavior, not reinforce it. Therefore, this statement suggests a need for further education about the goals of treatment.

Choice A rationale:

Anger is a common and expected response to trauma, including sexual assault. It can stem from various sources, including:

Feelings of violation and powerlessness: Survivors may feel intense anger towards the perpetrator for taking control of their bodies and lives.

Betrayal: If the assault was committed by someone they knew or trusted, survivors may feel intense anger towards that person for breaking their trust.

Frustration and injustice: Survivors may feel angry at the injustice of the situation, the lack of control they had, and the ongoing impact of the trauma.

Difficulty processing other emotions: Anger can sometimes mask other emotions that are difficult to deal with, such as fear, sadness, or guilt.

Anger can manifest in various ways, including:

Irritability and outbursts: Survivors may have a short temper, snap at others easily, or have difficulty controlling their anger. Aggression: In some cases, anger can lead to physical or verbal aggression towards others or self-harming behaviors.

Withdrawal and isolation: Some survivors may withdraw from social interactions and relationships to avoid potential triggers for their anger.

Substance abuse: Some survivors may turn to alcohol or drugs to numb their feelings or cope with their anger.

Choice B rationale:

Sleeping 12 hours or more each day can be a symptom of PTSD, but it is not a specific indicator of anger. It can also be a sign of depression, anxiety, or hypersomnia, a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness.

Choice C rationale:

PTSD can sometimes lead to an increased sense of detachment from others, rather than attachment. Survivors may feel emotionally numb, have difficulty trusting others, or withdraw from relationships.

Choice D rationale:

While some survivors of sexual assault may feel a need to talk about the event, it is not a universal symptom of PTSD. Some survivors may avoid talking about the event altogether due to the distress it causes.