IGNOU PB. Bsc. Nsg. Entrance-2025
Mental Health Nursing
Easy
Unshakeable and persistent ideas are called :
Appeared in: IGNOU PB. Bsc. Nsg. Entrance-2025
Explanation
- Delusions are defined as fixed, false beliefs that are strongly held and unchangeable, even when presented with contradictory evidence.
- The term 'unshakeable' in the question is the most critical clue, directly pointing to the definition of a delusion.
- Unlike obsessions, a person with a delusion does not recognize their belief as false or irrational; they are completely convinced of its truth.
- Delusions are a core symptom of psychotic disorders like schizophrenia but can also occur in mood disorders, dementia, and delirium (SRC_7112).
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: Hallucinations are disorders of perception, not thought. They involve sensing something (seeing, hearing, feeling) that is not actually there.
- Option B: Illusions are also disorders of perception, involving the misinterpretation of a real sensory stimulus.
- Option C: Obsessions are persistent and intrusive thoughts, but they are not 'unshakeable' beliefs. The individual typically recognizes them as irrational (ego-dystonic) and tries to suppress or neutralize them.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Disorders of Thought Content in Psychiatry as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- A nurse must be able to accurately differentiate between these symptoms to assess a patient's mental state, document correctly, and communicate effectively with the healthcare team. Misidentifying a delusion as an obsession could lead to an incorrect understanding of the patient's level of insight and reality testing.
- When caring for a patient with delusions, it is crucial for the nurse to avoid arguing with or challenging the belief, as this can increase agitation and damage the therapeutic relationship. Instead, the focus should be on the feelings associated with the delusion and on reality-based activities.
- What if the patient said, 'I can't stop thinking about germs, I know it's silly but I have to wash my hands'? This would point towards an obsession, not a delusion, because the patient demonstrates insight ('I know it's silly'). The nursing approach would then focus on anxiety management and behavioral therapies like exposure and response prevention.
How to Approach the Question
- First, analyze the keywords in the question stem: 'Unshakeable' and 'persistent ideas'.
- 'Ideas' points to a disorder of thought content, which helps narrow down the options.
- The word 'unshakeable' is the key differentiator. It implies a fixed belief that the person holds with absolute conviction and is not amenable to change.
- Evaluate each option against this key characteristic. A hallucination is a perception. An illusion is a misperception. An obsession is a thought, but it's typically seen as irrational by the person experiencing it. A delusion is a belief that is fixed and unshakeable.
- Conclude that 'delusion' is the only term that fully matches the description of an 'unshakeable' idea.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Disorders of Thought Content in Psychiatry
- Stem keywords: unshakeable, persistent, ideas
- Lead-in keywords: are called
Question ID
QsXAih5GtuZZ0lQhG3Oxaf
Reference Book
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 3801-3803, 3802-3804, 3815-3817
Practise the full IGNOU PB. Bsc. Nsg. Entrance-2025
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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