A 40-year-old client is admitted to the hospital for tests to diagnose cancer. Since his admission, he has become dependent and demanding to the…

The client is experiencing significant stress and anxiety related to the potential diagnosis of cancer. In response, he is exhibiting dependent and demanding behaviors, which are characteristic of an earlier developmental stage. This unconscious reversion to a more childlike state to cope with overwhelming stress is known as regression. The client is abandoning mature coping mechanisms for behaviors that may have provided comfort and security during childhood.

A. Denial: This would involve the client refusing to accept the reality of his situation, such as by stating, "I'm not sick" or refusing the diagnostic tests.

B. Displacement: This would involve the client redirecting his fear or anger about the potential diagnosis onto a less threatening target, such as yelling at a family member.

D. Projection: This would involve the client attributing his own unacceptable feelings (e.g., fear, helplessness) to others, such as accusing the staff of being incompetent or scared.

1. Videbeck, S. L. (2020). Psychiatric-mental health nursing (8th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. In Chapter 14, "Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, and Stress-Related Illness," regression is defined as "reverting to an earlier, more primitive and childlike pattern of behavior that may or may not have been previously exhibited" (p. 239, Table 14.1).

2. Townsend, M. C., & Morgan, K. I. (2018). Essentials of psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice (7th ed.). F.A. Davis Company. Chapter 1, "Mental Health and Mental Illness," describes regression as a defense mechanism where an individual retreats "in response to stress to an earlier level of development and the comfort measures associated with that level of functioning" (p. 11, Table 1-2).

3. Horvath, P., & Baugh, J. (2015). Defense Mechanisms. In The Encyclopedia of Clinical Psychology. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This academic publication defines regression as a response to stress where an individual "returns to an earlier, more infantile, and safer stage of development." (DOI: 10.1002/9781118625392.wbecp471).