You think that your client may have poor sleep hygiene because he does all of the following, except:

Choice A reason: Cognitive restructuring techniques are more effective for clients with anxiety or depressive disorders. Schizotypal clients struggle primarily with social deficits and eccentric behaviors, making cognitive restructuring less directly beneficial.

Choice B reason: Teaching social skills is the most beneficial intervention. Schizotypal personality disorder is characterized by social anxiety, poor interpersonal skills, and odd behaviors. Structured social skills training helps these clients improve communication, reduce isolation, and function better in relationships.

Choice C reason: Improving community functioning is important but secondary. Without basic social skills, community integration is difficult. Therefore, teaching social skills must come first to enable better functioning in broader environments.

Choice D reason: Providing emotional support is helpful but insufficient as a primary intervention. While support can reduce distress, it does not address the core deficits in social functioning that are central to schizotypal personality disorder.

Choice A reason: Glucocorticoid activity is related to stress response and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. While abnormalities here can contribute to depression, decreased glucocorticoid activity is not the primary neurochemical imbalance associated with depression.

Choice B reason: Increased dopamine activity is more commonly linked to conditions such as schizophrenia or mania. Depression is typically associated with reduced neurotransmitter activity, not increased dopamine.

Choice C reason: The most widely accepted neurochemical explanation for depression is decreased activity of serotonin and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters regulate mood, sleep, appetite, and energy. Deficits in their activity lead to the hallmark symptoms of depression, making this the correct answer.

Choice D reason: The kindling process refers to repeated stimulation of neural pathways that can lower the threshold for mood episodes, particularly in bipolar disorder. While it may play a role in mood disorders, it is not the primary explanation for depression’s neurochemical imbalance.