A nurse is educating a client who has been diagnosed with various types of obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCDs) Select all the themes that can categorize obsessions and compulsions in individuals with OCD.

Choice A rationale:

The statement that medication will provide immediate relief from all symptoms is an overgeneralization. While medication can help alleviate symptoms, the relief might not be immediate and might not cover all symptoms comprehensively.

Choice B rationale:

Medication modifying self-image and values is not a recognized benefit of pharmacological treatment for OCD. This choice does not align with the established mechanisms of action of the medications used for OCD.

Choice C rationale:

The correct answer. Medication's potential to reduce the severity of obsessions and compulsions is a relevant benefit to highlight. While it might not eliminate symptoms entirely, it can make them more manageable and improve the individual's overall quality of life.

Choice D rationale:

The statement that medication will eliminate the need for any psychotherapeutic interventions is overly optimistic. A comprehensive treatment approach for OCD often includes a combination of medication and psychotherapy for optimal results.

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.