Psychotic Disorders no. 4004

Psychotic Disorders no. 4004

QUESTION: A client tells the nurse that people from Mars are going to invade the earth. Which response by the nurse would be most therapeutic?

✓O a.) "That must be frightening to you. Can you tell me how you feel about it?"
✘O b.) "There are no people living on Mars."
✘O c.) "What do you mean when you say they're going to invade the earth?"
✘O d.) "I know you believe the earth is going to be invaded, but I don't believe that."

RATIONALE

RATIONALE: This response addresses the client's underlying fears without feeding the delusion. Refuting the client's delusion, as in option 2, would increase anxiety and reinforce the delusion. Asking the client to elaborate on the delusion, as in option 3, would also reinforce it. Voicing disbelief about the delusion, as in option 4, wouldn't help the client deal with underlying fears.
NURSING PROCESS STEP: Implementation
CLIENT NEEDS CATEGORY: Psychosocial integrity
CLIENT NEEDS SUBCATEGORY: None
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Application