______ is a type of treatment for problems of an emotional nature, in which a trained person deliberately establishes a professional relationship with the patient to remove, modify, or retard existing symptoms, mediate disturbed patterns of behavior, and promote positive personality growth and development.

1. A

   Relaxation therapy

2. B

   Psychotherapy

3. C

   Abreaction therapy

4. D

   Cognitive therapy

Appeared in: BTSC Staff Nurse 1 August-2025

Explanation

• The provided definition accurately describes psychotherapy, a form of treatment where a trained professional establishes a therapeutic relationship with a patient.
• The primary goals align with psychotherapy: to explore and change feelings, attitudes, thinking, and behavior.
• It encompasses removing or modifying symptoms, mediating disturbed behaviors, and promoting positive personality growth, which are all core tenets of psychotherapy.
• Source SRC_24372 defines individual psychotherapy as a method of bringing change by exploring a person's feelings, attitudes, thinking, and behavior on a one-to-one basis.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: Relaxation therapy is a specific technique, not a comprehensive treatment model. Its main goal is to reduce stress and tension, often as a component of a broader therapy plan, rather than addressing deep-seated behavioral patterns or personality growth.
• Option C: Abreaction therapy is a specific and intense process focused on reliving past traumatic events to release repressed emotions. The definition in the question is much broader and not limited to trauma.
• Option D: Cognitive therapy is a type of psychotherapy, but it has a more specific focus. It centers on identifying and changing maladaptive or distorted thinking patterns. The question describes a more general process that includes behavior and overall personality growth, not just cognition.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Definition and scope of psychotherapy to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
• Nurses play a crucial role in identifying patients who may benefit from psychotherapy and can facilitate referrals to mental health specialists.
• Understanding the basics of psychotherapy helps nurses provide better supportive care, as they can reinforce therapeutic goals and understand the patient's emotional journey.
• A key nursing intervention is to build a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship, which shares principles with psychotherapy, such as active listening, empathy, and trust, creating a safe environment for patients to express their feelings.

How to Approach the Question

• First, carefully read the definition provided in the question stem. Break it down into key components: a trained professional, a professional relationship, and the goals (symptom modification, behavior change, personality growth).
• Next, evaluate each option against this comprehensive definition.
• Recognize that 'Psychotherapy' is a broad, overarching term.
• Consider if the other options are more specific techniques or subtypes that fall under a larger category.
• Note that 'Cognitive therapy' is a type of psychotherapy, but the definition in the stem is more general, making 'Psychotherapy' the best fit.
• Select the option that most accurately and broadly encompasses all parts of the description.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Definition and scope of psychotherapy
• Stem keywords: treatment, emotional nature, trained person, professional relationship, remove, modify, or retard existing symptoms, disturbed patterns of behavior, promote positive personality growth
• Lead-in keywords: is a type of treatment
• Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QlFW60cXmivpzu-glop5y3

Copy ID

Reference Book

E6 Guide to Mental Health & PSYCHIATRIC NURSING R Sreevani— Part 1 (pp 26-289 of 579) pp. 148-150, 153-155, 149-151