Psychiatric Medications Q 43

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Nurse Cristina is caring for a client who experiences false sensory perceptions with no basis in reality. These perceptions are known as:

  

     A. Delusions

     B. Hallucinations

     C. Loose associations

     D. Neologisms

    

    

Correct Answer: B. Hallucinations

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Hallucinations are visual, auditory, gustatory, tactile, or olfactory perceptions that have no basis in reality. The word “hallucination” comes from Latin and means “to wander mentally.” Hallucinations are defined as the “perception of a nonexistent object or event” and “sensory experiences that are not caused by stimulation of the relevant sensory organs.” Hallucinations occur frequently in people with psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, however, you don’t necessarily need to have a mental illness to experience hallucinations.

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Option A: Delusions are false beliefs, rather than perceptions, that the client accepts as real. Delusions are defined as fixed, false beliefs that conflict with reality. Despite contrary evidence, a person in a delusional state can’t let go of their convictions. Delusions are often reinforced by the misinterpretation of events. Many delusions also involve some level of paranoia. For example, someone might contend that the government is controlling our every move via radio waves despite evidence to the contrary.

Option C: Loose associations are rapid shifts among unrelated ideas. A thought disturbance demonstrated by speech that is disconnected and fragmented, with the individual jumping from one idea to another unrelated or indirectly related idea. It is essentially equivalent to derailment.

Option D: Neologisms are bizarre words that have meaning only to the client. A newly coined word or expression. In a neurological or psychopathological context, neologisms, whose origins and meanings are usually nonsensical and unrecognizable (e.g., klipno for watch), are typically associated with aphasia or schizophrenia.

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