A nurse who has worked with a client diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) when he was an inpatient on the psychiatric unit sees the client in the waiting room of the outpatient psychiatric clinic

Question

The client tells the nurse how things have been going since he was discharged. The nurse determines that the client's therapy has been effective when the client states which of the following?

A) "I am still experiencing quite a bit of stress at home and at work; things are different at home than they were in the hospital."
B) "When my mother-in-law comes over now, I go out to my workshop and work on one of my projects."
C) "I'm still drinking coffee; I can't quit after drinking it all these years."
D) "I've learned having a beer after I get home from work helps me relax."

Answer 1

Ans: B
Evaluation should focus on the individual's ability and skills in using techniques that control anxiety, such as relaxation, positive self-talk, and stress management. Reducing personal and environmental stress (e.g., removing himself from his mother-in-law's company) can indicate success, as can incorporating practices that foster relaxation into daily routines. Although alcohol is relaxing for this client, it has the potential for dependency, and encouraging its routine use should be avoided. The statement about stress and things being different at home indicate that the client is still experiencing anxiety. Caffeine is a stimulant and should be avoided.