Signs and Symptoms
Schizophrenia is classified as which type of disorder?
A. Mood Disorder
B. Psychotic Disorder
C. Anxiety Disorder
D. Personality Disorder
b. Psychotic Disorder
A patient states, "The FBI has implanted a chip in my brain."
This is an example of:
A. Hallucination
B. Illusion
C. Delusion
D. Obsession
C. Delusion
A nurse observes a patient sitting motionless for several hours and resisting movement by staff.
This behavior is characteristic of:
A. Echolalia
B. Catatonia
C. Delusion
D. Flight of Ideas
B. Catatonia
The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with schizophrenia who states, "The voices are telling me to kill myself."
What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Document the statement
B. Administer PRN medication
C. Assess for a suicide plan and intent
D. Distract the client with activities
C. Assess for a suicide plan and intent
A client with schizophrenia states, "The government controls my thoughts through satellites."
This statement is most consistent with which type of delusion?
A. Delusion of reference
B. Thought insertion
C. Thought broadcasting
D. Delusion of grandeur
B. Thought Insertion
At what age does schizophrenia most commonly begin?
A. Childhood
B. Adolescence to Early Adulthood
C. Middle Age
D. Older Adulthood
B. Adolescence to Early Adulthood
Hearing voices when no one is present is called:
A. Delusion
B. Auditory Hallucination
C. Illusion
D. Paranoia
B. Auditory Hallucination
A patient repeats every word the nurse says.
This behavior is called:
A. Neologism
B. Echopraxia
C. Echolalia
D. Perseveration
C. Echolalia
Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Flat affect
B. Social withdrawal
C. Command hallucinations to harm others
D. Poor eye contact
C. Command hallucinations to harm others
A nurse assesses a client who suddenly stops speaking in the middle of a sentence and appears unable to continue the thought.
The nurse should document this finding as:
A. Circumstantiality
B. Tangential thinking
C. Thought blocking
D. Loose associations
C. Thought Blocking
Which symptom is considered a positive symptom of schizophrenia?
A. Flat affect
B. Social withdrawal
C. Hallucinations
D. Lack of motivation
C. Hallucinations
Which neurotransmitter is most associated with schizophrenia?
A. Serotonin
B. Acetylcholine
C. Dopamine
D. GABA
C. Dopamine
A patient makes up words that have meaning only to them.
This is known as:
A. Word Salad
B. Neologism
C. Circumstantiality
D. Tangential Thinking
B. Neologism
A nurse is planning care for a client with schizophrenia. Which outcome indicates treatment is effective?
A. Client remains isolated
B. Client reports decreased hallucinations
C. Client sleeps all day
D. Client refuses medications
B. Client reports decreased hallucinations
A client taking haloperidol develops severe muscle rigidity, a temperature of 103.5°F (39.7°C), confusion, and tachycardia.
Which complication should the nurse suspect?
A. Serotonin syndrome
B. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)
C. Tardive dyskinesia
D. Acute dystonia
B. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)
Which symptom is considered a negative symptom?
A. Delusions
B. Hallucinations
C. Disorganized speech
D. Avolition
D. Avolition
Which medication class is primarily used to treat schizophrenia?
A. Antidepressants
B. Benzodiazepines
C. Antipsychotics
D. Mood Stabilizers
C. Antipsychotics
Which nursing intervention is most appropriate for a patient experiencing command hallucinations?
A. Encourage isolation
B. Ask what the voices are saying
C. Reinforce the hallucination
D. Tell the patient the voices are real
B. Ask what the voices are saying
Which statement by a nurse demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. "The voices aren't real."
B. "You need to ignore the voices."
C. "I understand the voices seem real to you, but I do not hear them."
D. "Why do you think you're hearing voices?"
C. "I understand the voices seem real to you, but I do not hear them."
Which finding would most strongly support a diagnosis of schizophrenia rather than brief psychotic disorder?
A. Presence of hallucinations
B. Presence of delusions
C. Symptoms persisting for more than 6 months
D. Social withdrawal
C. Symptoms Persisting for More Than 6 Months
True or False:
People with schizophrenia have multiple personalities.
Answer: False
Which antipsychotic requires routine monitoring for agranulocytosis?
A. Haloperidol
B. Risperidone
C. Clozapine
D. Olanzapine
C. Clozapine
A patient says, "The TV news anchor is sending me secret messages."
This is an example of:
A. Delusion of Grandeur
B. Delusion of Reference
C. Somatic Delusion
D. Nihilistic Delusion
B. Delusion of Reference
Which symptom places a patient at the greatest risk for injury?
A. Flat affect
B. Anhedonia
C. Command hallucinations
D. Alogia
C. Command hallucinations
A nurse is evaluating whether a client's antipsychotic medication is effectively treating negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Which assessment finding suggests improvement?
A. Decreased auditory hallucinations
B. Reduced paranoid delusions
C. Increased emotional expression and social engagement
D. Decreased thought broadcasting
C. Increased Emotional Expression and Social Engagement