Question

a nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder. when the client verbalizes disapproval of the client's own physical features, the nurse should:

Answer 1

A nurse should respond to a body dysmorphic disorder patient's disapproval of their appearance with empathy and redirect focus to intrinsic qualities, integrating this into a comprehensive care plan due to the common co-occurrence with disorders like anorexia nervosa.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a client diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder verbalizes disapproval of their own physical features, the nurse should engage in a therapeutic and supportive dialogue. This involves acknowledging the client's feelings without reinforcing the distorted beliefs. It is essential to provide empathy and understanding, aiming to redirect their focus away from appearance and towards their intrinsic qualities and strengths. Since body dysmorphic disorder is often associated with other disorders like anorexia nervosa, it is critical to take verbalized concerns seriously and address them within the context of a comprehensive care plan.