Question

A client newly admitted to an in-patient psychiatric unit is diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Which behavioral symptom would the nurse expect to assess?

1) The client uses excessive hand washing to relieve anxiety.
2) The client rates anxiety at 8/10.
3) The client uses breathing techniques to decrease anxiety.
4) The client exhibits diaphoresis and tachycardia.

Answer 1

The nurse would expect to assess excessive hand washing as a behavioral symptom in a client newly admitted with obsessive-compulsive disorder, as it is a classic example of the repetitive motor behaviors associated with OCD.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing a client newly admitted to an in-patient psychiatric unit diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a nurse would expect to see various symptoms that are characteristic of this condition. Among the behavioral symptoms presented in the question, the one that best fits the diagnosis of OCD is excessive hand washing to relieve anxiety. This is because OCD is commonly associated with repetitive motor behaviors and a need to perform certain rituals to alleviate obsessive thoughts that cause distress.

In this specific case, option 1, which describes the client using excessive hand washing to relieve anxiety, is an example of a compulsive behavior, typical of OCD. This is supported by various studies highlighting brain-behavior relationships in OCD, and the involvement of fronto-striato-limbic structures in the neurocircuitry of the disorder that affects behavior.