Author Question: A client is newly diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder and spends 45 minutes folding clothes ... (Read 63 times)

abern · **on:** Jul 19, 2018

A client is newly diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder and spends 45 minutes folding clothes and rearranging them in drawers. Which nursing intervention would best address this client's problem?

A. Distract the client with other activities whenever ritual behaviors begin.
B. Report the behavior to the psychiatrist to obtain an order for medication dosage increase.
C. Lock the room to discourage ritualistic behavior.
D. Discuss the anxiety-provoking triggers that precipitate the ritualistic behaviors.

Question 2

A client diagnosed with an obsessive-compulsive disorder spends hours bathing and grooming. During a one-on-one interaction, the client discusses the rituals in detail but avoids any feelings that the rituals generate.

Which defense mechanism should the nurse identify? A. Sublimation
B. Dissociation
C. Rationalization
D. Intellectualization

verrinzo · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 19, 2018

Answer to Question 1

D
The nurse should discuss with the client the anxiety-provoking triggers that precipitate the ritualistic behavior. If the client is going to be able to avoid the anxiety, he or she must first learn to recognize precipitating factors. Attempting to distract the client, seeking medication increase, and locking the client's room are not appropriate interventions because they do not help the client recognize anxiety triggers.

Answer to Question 2

D
The nurse should identify that the client is using the defense mechanism of intellectualization when discussing the rituals of obsessive-compulsive disorder in detail while avoiding discussion of feelings. Intellectualization is an attempt to avoid expressing emotions associated with a stressful situation by using the intellectual processes of logic, reasoning, and analysis.