When assessing clients, a psychiatric nurse should understand that psychoanalytic theory is based on which underlying concept?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Psychoanalytic theory, pioneered by Sigmund Freud, is based on the underlying concept of understanding the structure and dynamics of the personality. This theory focuses on the subconscious mind, repressed memories, and childhood experiences to analyze a client's behavior, thoughts, and emotions. By exploring the various components of the personality such as the id, ego, and superego, a psychiatric nurse can gain insight into the client's unconscious drives and conflicts. Understanding these underlying dynamics can help guide therapeutic interventions and promote personal growth and mental health.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: According to psychoanalytic theory, treatment of symptoms involves gaining insight into the underlying unconscious conflicts that are leading to the symptoms. Recognizing and discussing the client's use of ego defense mechanisms is crucial in helping them understand how these defense mechanisms are protecting them from anxiety-provoking thoughts or feelings. By exploring and resolving these unconscious conflicts, the client can develop healthier coping strategies and reduce the need for symptoms to surface. Expressing empathy and presenting reality, encouraging the client to note cause and effects of actions, and modifying client behaviors through environmental manipulation may all be part of the therapeutic process, but recognizing and discussing ego defense mechanisms is central to the psychoanalytic approach to treatment.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Peplau's theory emphasizes the importance of the nurse-patient relationship and the use of therapeutic communication to understand the patient's needs and provide appropriate care. By applying principles of human relations to the problems that arise at all levels of experience, the nurse demonstrates an understanding of Peplau's theory in nursing care. This approach focuses on building a therapeutic relationship, promoting patient autonomy, and utilizing the nurse's interpersonal skills to facilitate healing and growth. It shows that the student has learned how to apply Peplau's theory to nursing practice effectively.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: This type of adoption study allows researchers to isolate the impact of genetics (mental illness in biological parents) from the impact of environment (mentally healthy adoptive parents). By comparing the outcomes of these children with mentally ill biological parents raised by mentally healthy adoptive parents to the general population, researchers can determine the extent to which mental illness is influenced by genetics. This study design helps provide useful information for the psychiatric community in understanding the role of genetics in mental illness.