A patient with major depression says,"No one cares about me anymore.I'm not worth anything." The nurse wants to reinforce positive self-esteem.Today,the patient is wearing a new shirt and has neat,clean hair.Which remark is most appropriate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Patients with depression usually see the negative side of things.The meaning of compliments may be altered to "I didn't look nice yesterday" or "They didn't like my other shirt." Neutral comments such as an observation avoid negative interpretations.Saying "You look nice" or "I like your shirt" gives approval (nontherapeutic techniques).Saying "You must be feeling better today" is an assumption,which is nontherapeutic.

A Patient with Major Depression Says,"No One Cares About Me