A client diagnosed with an obsessive-compulsive disorder spends hours bathing and grooming.During a one-on-one interaction,the client discusses the rituals in detail but avoids any feelings that the rituals generate.Which defense mechanism should the nurse identify?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should identify that the client is using the defense mechanism of intellectualization when discussing the rituals of obsessive-compulsive disorder in detail while avoiding discussion of feelings.Intellectualization is an attempt to avoid expressing emotions associated with a stressful situation by using the intellectual processes of logic,reasoning,and analysis.

A Client Diagnosed with an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Spends Hours Bathing