Question

The nurse discovers that a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is attempting to resist the compulsion. Based on this finding, the nurse should assess the client for:

1. feelings of failure.
2. depression.
3. excessive fear.
4. increased anxiety.

Answer 1

A nurse should assess for increased anxiety in a client with OCD who is attempting to resist their compulsion, as well as for depression, feelings of failure, and excessive fear that commonly co-occur with OCD.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is attempting to resist their compulsion, the nurse should assess for increased levels of anxiety. Resisting compulsions is often a part of exposure therapy, which can lead to temporarily heightened anxiety as the person is not performing their usual ritual to manage their fears. In the context of OCD, the effort to break the cycle of compulsions without the proper therapeutic framework in place can exacerbate stress and anxiety.

Assessment for other factors such as depression, feelings of failure, and excessive fear can also be relevant because they commonly co-occur with OCD. These assessments are crucial because they can provide a broader understanding of the client's psychological state and inform the treatment plan to help improve the client's quality of life.