A nurse is assessing a client diagnosed with schizophrenia. Which of the following behaviors should the nurse document to be associated with schizophrenia?
Periods of elation with unusual talkativeness.
Recurrent thoughts of past trauma.
Preoccupied with folding clothes.
Invents words that have no meaning.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A rationale:
Periods of elation with unusual talkativeness. Rationale: While periods of elation with unusual talkativeness can be associated with certain mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, they are not specific to schizophrenia. These symptoms are more indicative of mania, which is characteristic of bipolar disorder.
Choice B rationale:
Recurrent thoughts of past trauma. Rationale: Recurrent thoughts of past trauma can be associated with various mental health disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but they are not specific to schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is primarily characterized by disturbances in thought processes, perception, and behavior.
Choice C rationale:
Preoccupied with folding clothes. Rationale: Preoccupation with folding clothes is not a hallmark symptom of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is characterized by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and impaired social functioning.
Choice D rationale:
Invents words that have no meaning. Rationale: This statement is correct. Inventing words that have no meaning, also known as "neologisms," is a symptom often observed in individuals with schizophrenia. Neologisms are a manifestation of disorganized thinking and communication.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
"This is supposed to happen when you get old, right?" is a common misconception but doesn't necessarily support the diagnosis of delirium. It could be attributed to normal aging changes.
Choice B rationale:
"Since his mother died, he has not been feeling well." indicates a potential stressor but doesn't directly address the rapid onset of behavioral changes, which is a hallmark of delirium.
Choice C rationale:
"My husband just didn't seem to know what he was doing. He has been forgetful for years." suggests a history of forgetfulness rather than an acute change in behavior, which is more indicative of chronic cognitive issues like dementia.
Choice D rationale:
(Correct) "The changes in his behavior came on so quickly! I wasn't sure what was happening." This statement supports the diagnosis of delirium, which is characterized by a sudden onset of confusion and changes in cognitive function. Delirium often develops rapidly, and the client's wife's observation aligns with this diagnostic criterion.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Circumstantiality refers to a communication pattern where the individual provides excessive, unnecessary details before reaching the point. In this scenario, the patient's response is not characterized by providing excessive details but rather by the use of words that sound alike but have no meaningful connection.
Choice B rationale:
Clang association is a communication pattern where the individual's speech is characterized by rhyming or the repetition of words that sound similar but lack logical connection. The patient's response, "This is a new day in May and I can't wait to play," demonstrates this pattern, as the words "May" and "play" rhyme but don't form a coherent sentence.
Choice C rationale:
Tangentiality refers to a communication pattern where the individual goes off-topic and never returns to the original subject. The patient's response, while seemingly off-topic, is not a clear example of tangentiality, as the words used are related in a rhyming manner rather than being entirely unrelated.
Choice D rationale:
Neologism refers to the creation of new words or phrases that are not part of any recognized language. The patient's response does not involve the creation of entirely new words; instead, it involves the use of existing words that rhyme but lack a coherent connection.
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