A nurse is caring for a client who has dementia and insists that a doll is their infant child. Which of the following behavioral management techniques should the nurse use when interacting with the client?

A. Cognitive reframing: Cognitive reframing involves helping clients identify and change irrational or negative thought patterns. It requires insight and reasoning ability, which clients with dementia typically lack, making it ineffective in this scenario. B. Thought stopping: Thought stopping is used in anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorders to interrupt intrusive thoughts. It is not appropriate for dementia-related delusions or misperceptions because the client’s thinking is impaired by cognitive decline. C. Validation therapy: Validation therapy accepts the client’s perception of reality rather than challenging it. By acknowledging the client’s belief that the doll is their child, the nurse reduces anxiety and promotes comfort, preserving dignity and trust. D. Operant conditioning: Operant conditioning involves using rewards or consequences to modify behavior. It is ineffective for managing dementia-related confusion or delusions since these behaviors are not under voluntary control.