Chapter 18. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Multiple Choice
1. A nursing instructor is teaching about the didactic aspects of cognitive therapy.
Which student statement indicates a deficit in meeting the learning objectives of this
content?
A. The therapist provides information about the process of cognitive therapy. B. The
therapist uses guided imagery in an effort to elicit automatic thoughts. C. The therapist
provides information about how cognitive therapy works.
D. The therapist uses reading assignments to reinforce learning.
ANS: B
Cognitive therapy prepares the client to become his or her own cognitive therapist. The
didactic portion of the therapy provides educational material to reinforce learning
about the therapy and how it affects psychiatric disorders.
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Processes: Nursing Process: Evaluation |
Client Need:
Psychosocial Integrity
2. A psychiatric nurse is counseling a client who has thought patterns consisting of
rapid responses to a situation without rational analysis. What assessment data will the
nurse document on this client?
A. Thought patterns are triggered by specific stressful stimuli.
B. Thought patterns contain the clients fundamental beliefs and assumptions. C.
Thought patterns are flexible and based on personal experience.
,D. Thought patterns include a predominance of automatic thoughts.
ANS: D
According to Beck, automatic thoughts consist of rapid responses to a situation
without rational analysis. These thoughts are often negative and based on erroneous
logic.
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Processes: Nursing Process:
Assessment | Client Need:
Psychosocial Integrity
3. A successful business executive continually thinks that job accomplishments are
not adequate. A nurse recognizes that the clients thinking is reflective of which
cognitive error?
A. Minimization
B. Dichotomous thinking
C. Arbitrary inference D. Personalization ANS: A
Minimization is the cognitive error that undervalues positive events and experiences.
The client cannot give credit for personal strengths.
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Processes: Nursing Process:
Assessment | Client Need:
Psychosocial Integrity
4. A nursing student states, The instructor gave me a failing grade on my research
paper. I know its because the instructor doesnt like me. Which cognitive error does a
nurse recognize in this students statement?
, A. Dichotomous thinking B. Catastrophic thinking C. Magnification
D. Overgeneralization
ANS: C
In magnification, negative events are exaggerated. It is irrational to assume that there
is a relationship between failing a paper and being personally disliked by the instructor.
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Processes: Nursing Process:
Assessment | Client Need:
Psychosocial Integrity
5. An advanced practice nurse recommends that a client participate in cognitive
therapy. The client asks, Whats cognitive therapy and how can it help me? Which is the
nurses most appropriate reply?
A. It is a system of techniques in which you use positive thinking to improve your
mood.
B. It is a long-term interpersonal approach that emphasizes the role of early childhood
experiences. C. It is an interpersonal treatment approach that specifically targets
magical thinking.
D. It is a type of psychotherapy that focuses treatment on the modification of distorted
thinking and maladaptive behaviors.
ANS: D
Cognitive therapy is meant to be a time-limited intervention in which the therapist
works in collaboration with the client to modify thinking to eliminate cognitive errors
that reinforce emotional disturbances.
Multiple Choice
1. A nursing instructor is teaching about the didactic aspects of cognitive therapy.
Which student statement indicates a deficit in meeting the learning objectives of this
content?
A. The therapist provides information about the process of cognitive therapy. B. The
therapist uses guided imagery in an effort to elicit automatic thoughts. C. The therapist
provides information about how cognitive therapy works.
D. The therapist uses reading assignments to reinforce learning.
ANS: B
Cognitive therapy prepares the client to become his or her own cognitive therapist. The
didactic portion of the therapy provides educational material to reinforce learning
about the therapy and how it affects psychiatric disorders.
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Processes: Nursing Process: Evaluation |
Client Need:
Psychosocial Integrity
2. A psychiatric nurse is counseling a client who has thought patterns consisting of
rapid responses to a situation without rational analysis. What assessment data will the
nurse document on this client?
A. Thought patterns are triggered by specific stressful stimuli.
B. Thought patterns contain the clients fundamental beliefs and assumptions. C.
Thought patterns are flexible and based on personal experience.
,D. Thought patterns include a predominance of automatic thoughts.
ANS: D
According to Beck, automatic thoughts consist of rapid responses to a situation
without rational analysis. These thoughts are often negative and based on erroneous
logic.
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Processes: Nursing Process:
Assessment | Client Need:
Psychosocial Integrity
3. A successful business executive continually thinks that job accomplishments are
not adequate. A nurse recognizes that the clients thinking is reflective of which
cognitive error?
A. Minimization
B. Dichotomous thinking
C. Arbitrary inference D. Personalization ANS: A
Minimization is the cognitive error that undervalues positive events and experiences.
The client cannot give credit for personal strengths.
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Processes: Nursing Process:
Assessment | Client Need:
Psychosocial Integrity
4. A nursing student states, The instructor gave me a failing grade on my research
paper. I know its because the instructor doesnt like me. Which cognitive error does a
nurse recognize in this students statement?
, A. Dichotomous thinking B. Catastrophic thinking C. Magnification
D. Overgeneralization
ANS: C
In magnification, negative events are exaggerated. It is irrational to assume that there
is a relationship between failing a paper and being personally disliked by the instructor.
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Processes: Nursing Process:
Assessment | Client Need:
Psychosocial Integrity
5. An advanced practice nurse recommends that a client participate in cognitive
therapy. The client asks, Whats cognitive therapy and how can it help me? Which is the
nurses most appropriate reply?
A. It is a system of techniques in which you use positive thinking to improve your
mood.
B. It is a long-term interpersonal approach that emphasizes the role of early childhood
experiences. C. It is an interpersonal treatment approach that specifically targets
magical thinking.
D. It is a type of psychotherapy that focuses treatment on the modification of distorted
thinking and maladaptive behaviors.
ANS: D
Cognitive therapy is meant to be a time-limited intervention in which the therapist
works in collaboration with the client to modify thinking to eliminate cognitive errors
that reinforce emotional disturbances.
