Client/Family Education – Nature of the Illness

Client/Family Education

• Nature of the Illness
• What is anxiety?
• To what might it be related?
• What is O C D?
• What is body dysmorphic disorder?
• What is trichotillomania?
• Symptoms of anxiety, O C D, and related disorders
• Management of the Illness
  • Medication management
    • Possible adverse effect
    • Length of time to take effect
    • What to expect from the medication
• Stress management
  • Teach ways to interrupt escalating anxiety.
  • Teach relaxation techniques.
• Support Services
  • Crisis hotline
  • Support groups
  • Individual psychotherapy

Evaluation

• Evaluation of the effectiveness of the nursing interventions is measured by fulfillment of the outcome criteria.
• Can the client recognize signs and symptoms of escalating anxiety, and interrupt before it reaches panic level?
• Can the client demonstrate activities that can be used to maintain anxiety at a manageable level?
• Can the client discuss the phobic object or situation without becoming anxious?
• Can the client function in the presence of the phobic object or situation without experiencing panic anxiety?
• Can the O C D client refrain from performing rituals when anxiety level rises and demonstrate substitute behaviors to maintain anxiety at a manageable level?
• Can the client with trichotillomania refrain from hair-pulling and substitute a more adaptive behavior when urges to pull hair occur?
• Does the client with body dysmorphic disorder verbalize a realistic perception and satisfactory acceptance of personal appearance?