A psychiatric nurse uses Sullivans theories in group and individual therapy. According to Sullivan and other theorists like him, how are client symptoms viewed?

Question

A psychiatric nurse uses Sullivans theories in group and individual therapy. According to Sullivan and other theorists like him, how are client symptoms viewed??  
A. Client symptoms are viewed as learned behaviors that are maintained because they are reinforced.  
B. Client symptoms are viewed as responses to anxiety arising from interpersonal relationships.  
C. Client symptoms are viewed as internal conflicts arising from early childhood trauma.  
D. Client symptoms are viewed as the misinterpretations of experiences.

NursesPath · Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: (B)Client symptoms are viewed as responses to anxiety arising from interpersonal relationships.. 
Rationale: Based on the information given, the response that addresses the question is Client symptoms are viewed as responses to anxiety arising from interpersonal relationships..A. Client symptoms are viewed as learned behaviors that are maintained because they are reinforced.This would apply in a different scenario where the idea in “Client symptoms are viewed as learned behaviors that are maintained because they are reinforced.” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.B. Client symptoms are viewed as responses to anxiety arising from interpersonal relationships.This matches the stem because Sullivan believed that anxiety is the chief disruptive force in interpersonal relations and the main factor in the development of serious difficulty in living. Need: Psychosocial Integrity Developmental theories help the nurse connect present coping and relationship patterns to age-expected tasks, which can inform realistic goals, communication style, and supportive interventions. From a nursing standpoint, this selection guides assessment and interventions toward what is most clinically meaningful in the moment—risk reduction, safety, accurate appraisal, and support for adaptive coping.C. Client symptoms are viewed as internal conflicts arising from early childhood trauma.This might be chosen when the idea in “Client symptoms are viewed as internal conflicts arising from early childhood trauma.” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.D. Client symptoms are viewed as the misinterpretations of experiences.This reflects a related idea, but it fits best when the idea in “Client symptoms are viewed as the misinterpretations of experiences.” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.ConclusionWhat separates the best choice from the rest is specificity: the correct option addresses the exact mechanism, stage, or principle described. The other answers relate to nearby ideas, yet they miss the question’s focal point or misapply the concept to the situation.

A psychiatric nurse uses Sullivans theories in group and individual therapy. According to Sullivan and other theorists like him, how are client symptoms viewed?

Based on the information given, the response that addresses the question is Client symptoms are viewed as responses to anxiety arising from interpersonal relationships..

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