Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

What is a common focus of paranoia in clients with anorexia nervosa?

1. Fear of being alone.

2. People trying to make them fat.

3. Belief that others are plotting against them.

4. Concern about social isolation.

The correct answer is: People trying to make them fat.

Clients with anorexia nervosa often exhibit specific paranoid thoughts central to their condition, one of which commonly involves the fear of others trying to make them fat. This stems from their distorted body image and the intense fear of weight gain that characterizes the disorder. Individuals with anorexia may believe that friends, family, or healthcare providers are deliberately attempting to undermine their efforts to remain thin by encouraging them to eat or gain weight. This paranoia can reinforce their eating disorder behaviors and drive a wedge in their interpersonal relationships, as they may become increasingly isolated in their efforts to control their weight. While concerns about social isolation and fears of being alone may also be present, they do not specifically epitomize the paranoia often seen in these clients. Similarly, beliefs about others plotting against them might occur but are less characteristic compared to the focused concern about influences related to weight gain.