A nurse in a mental health facility is planning care for a client who has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and is newly admitted to the unit. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take regarding the client's compulsive behaviors?

This action might be premature. MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors) are a class of antidepressants with specific dietary and medication interactions. They are typically considered when other classes of antidepressants have not been effective. It's important to exhaust other options before considering a switch to MAOIs.

B. Explain that antidepressants often take several weeks to be fully effective:

Explanation: Correct Answer. This is an appropriate response. Antidepressants, including citalopram, can take several weeks to show their full therapeutic effects. It's common for some symptoms to improve before others. Educating the client about the delayed onset of action is important to manage their expectations.

C. Tell the client that the provider will need to change citalopram to a different medication:

Explanation: It might be too early to consider changing the medication after just two weeks, especially since the client reports an improved appetite. Changes in dosage or medication should ideally be discussed with the provider after an adequate trial period.

D. Recommend a sleep study be done on the client:

Explanation: While sleep problems can be associated with depression, it might not be the most appropriate next step based solely on the information provided. It's more important to address the ongoing depressive symptoms before focusing solely on sleep.

A. Brief Patient Health Questionnaire (Brief PHQ):

The Brief PHQ is a screening tool used to assess symptoms of depression. While it may be relevant to assess mood and emotional well-being, it is not specific to evaluating cognitive functioning or cognitive disorders.

B. Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale (AIMS):

The AIMS is used to assess involuntary movements, particularly in individuals taking antipsychotic medications. It is not directly related to assessing cognitive disorders.

C,. Mental status examination (MSE)

Explanation:

When admitting an older adult client with a suspected cognitive disorder, including a mental status examination (MSE) as part of the assessment is crucial. The MSE is a structured assessment of a client's current cognitive functioning, emotional state, and thought processes. It helps to evaluate memory, attention, language, perception, orientation, mood, and other cognitive and emotional domains.

D. Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS):

The SANS is used to assess negative symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia. It focuses on features such as affective blunting, alogia, anhedonia, and other negative symptoms. While it may provide important information about a client's mental state, it is not primarily used to assess cognitive disorders.

Assessing cognitive function is a key component when evaluating older adult clients for cognitive disorders such as dementia or other cognitive impairments. The MSE provides valuable information to guide diagnosis and treatment planning for these conditions.