Psychiatric Medications Q 8
When asking the parents about the onset of problems in young client with the diagnosis of schizophrenia, Nurse Linda would expect that they would relate the client’s difficulties began in:
A. Early childhood
B. Late childhood
C. Adolescence
D. Puberty
Correct Answer: C. Adolescence
The usual age of onset of schizophrenia is adolescence or early childhood. The first schizophrenic episode usually occurs during early adulthood or late adolescence. Individuals often lack insight at this stage; therefore few will present directly to seek help for their psychotic symptoms. Common presentations include a relative noticing social withdrawal, personality changes or uncharacteristic behavior; deliberate self-harm or suicide attempts; calling the police to report their delusional symptoms or referral via the criminal justice system.
Option A: Though the prevalence of the disease varies globally, estimates are that schizophrenia affects approximately 1% of adults, whereas prevalence in the US is 0.6% to 1.9%. Men are slightly more likely to be diagnosed and have an earlier onset than women, while African-Caribbean migrants and their descendants also have a higher incidence.
Option B: Though the prevalence of the disease varies globally, estimates are that schizophrenia affects approximately 1% of adults, whereas prevalence in the US is 0.6% to 1.9%. Men are slightly more likely to be diagnosed and have an earlier onset than women, while African-Caribbean migrants and their descendants also have a higher incidence.
Option D: In schizophrenia, the prognosis is dependent on several factors. Insidious onset, childhood or adolescent onset, poor premorbid adjustment, and cognitive impairment are indicative of a poor prognostic outcome whereas acute onset, female sex, and living in a developed country signal comparatively better prognostic factors.