A patient is undergoing diagnostic tests. The patient says, “Nothing is wrong with me except a stubborn chest cold.” The spouse reports that the patient smokes, coughs daily, has recently lost 15 pounds, and is easily fatigued. Which defense mechanism is the patient using?

Choice A reason: Process recordings are for nurse self-reflection, not client analysis. They examine nurse communication, not patient abnormalities. Client communication issues, like disorganized speech in schizophrenia, are assessed clinically, not via recordings, making this option incorrect for the tool’s purpose in psychiatric practice.

Choice B reason: Process recordings analyze the nurse’s communication impact, assessing verbal and nonverbal cues on client responses. Effective communication, processed via mirror neurons, fosters therapeutic alliances, calming amygdala-driven anxiety. This self-evaluation improves nurse effectiveness, aligning with the scientific purpose of process recordings in psychiatric care.

Choice C reason: Identifying client communication abnormalities is a clinical assessment task, not the purpose of process recordings. Recordings focus on nurse interactions, not patient speech patterns, like those in mania. This option misaligns with the tool’s introspective goal, making it incorrect for its intended use.

Choice D reason: Clients exploring alternate techniques is a therapeutic goal, not the purpose of process recordings. Recordings analyze nurse communication, not patient skill-building. Effective nurse responses can reduce stress-related cortisol spikes, but this is secondary, making this option incorrect for the recording’s primary purpose.

Choice A reason: Socialization and mutual needs define social relationships, not therapeutic ones. Therapeutic relationships focus on patient needs, like addressing serotonin-driven depression, not reciprocal sharing. This approach risks blurring professional boundaries, making it incorrect for psychiatric nursing’s patient-centered focus.

Choice B reason: Mutual growth and satisfaction characterize social partnerships, not therapeutic relationships. In psychiatric care, the focus is on patient recovery, addressing issues like dopamine imbalances, not nurse satisfaction. This option misaligns with the professional, patient-centered nature of therapeutic relationships.

Choice C reason: The therapeutic relationship centers on the patient, addressing issues like amygdala-driven anxiety through collaborative discussion. Solutions, like medication adherence, are patient-driven to promote autonomy, aligning with neurobiological and psychological recovery principles, making this the correct description of the therapeutic dynamic.

Choice D reason: Shifting focus and mutual advice blur professional boundaries, resembling social relationships. Therapeutic relationships prioritize patient needs, like serotonin stabilization, with nurse guidance, not reciprocal advice. This option misrepresents the patient-centered, evidence-based nature of psychiatric therapeutic relationships.