The delusion 'I am the mother of God' is best addressed by the nurse by attempting to determine underlying needs.

• A. attempt to determine the underlying needs that are met by the delusion.
• B. respond to the verbal content of the delusion instead of the feeling tone or theme.
• C. refuse to respond when the client expresses thoughts not based on reality.
• D. ask the client more about how it feels to be the mother of God.

Answer: (A)

When someone holds a delusion, the most helpful move is to uncover what needs the belief is fulfilling for them—such as a sense of significance, belonging, safety, or control. By identifying and addressing those underlying needs, the nurse can respond compassionately, validate distress, and offer safer, reality-based ways to meet those needs. This approach reduces resistance and avoids directly challenging the delusion, which can otherwise escalate anxiety or defensiveness.

Focusing only on the content of the delusion without addressing the emotional function may reinforce the delusion and miss the opportunity to help the person cope with underlying distress. Refusing to respond to thoughts that aren’t based in reality is punitive and can damage trust, making treatment less effective. Asking about how it feels to be the mother of God can illuminate emotions, but it doesn’t directly address the needs the belief is serving or provide a path to meet those needs in safer ways.