Schizophrenia Q 6
Nurse Arya assesses for evidence of positive symptoms of schizophrenia in a newly admitted client. Which of the following symptoms are considered positive evidence? Select all that apply.
A. Anhedonia
B. Delusions
C. Flat affect
D. Hallucinations
E. Loose associations
F. Social withdrawal
Correct Answers: B, D, E
These are considered positive symptoms of schizophrenia. The typical positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinatory experiences or fixed delusional beliefs, tend to be very upsetting and disruptive—not a positive experience at all for you or someone you care about who is experiencing them. From the outside, a person with positive symptoms might seem distracted, as if they are listening to something (psychiatrists call this “responding to internal stimuli”). The phrase “positive symptoms” refers to symptoms that are in ?excess or added to normal mental functioning.
Option A: In Greek, an means “without” and hedone means “pleasure,” so in simple terms, anhedonia is a state where you are unable to feel pleasure. For people with schizophrenia, this can mean a lack of enthusiasm for activities, hobbies, passions, and pleasures once enjoyed.
Option B: Delusions are ideas that are not true. For example, people with schizophrenia might believe that the secret service is out to get them, or that TV anchors are transmitting coded messages, or their food is poisoned—and without any evidence. A fairly common type of delusion in schizophrenia is paranoia, which can cause a person with schizophrenia to feel followed, under close monitoring and surveillance, or afraid of ongoing plots or threats.
Option C: This limits a person’s ability to convey his or her emotions, causing diminished facial and emotional expressions. A blunted affect is less severe than flat affect, in which a person has an extremely limited range of emotions; for instance, not even being able to crack a smile or laugh during a time of great joy.
Option D: Schizophrenia causes a surplus of mental experiences (thoughts, feelings, behaviors). For example, hallucinations, which are not part of the normal, day-to-day experience for most people, are classified as positive symptom for people with schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia can experience a variety of hallucinations, but the most common are auditory hallucinations (or hearing noises and voices). This can include clicks and knocks, full conversations between people, or voices that talk to them directly. The voices can be good, but more often they are bad, dismissive, and mean. At times, the voices can be in the form of commands.
Option E: Disorganized thinking can be extremely frustrating, making it nearly impossible for people with schizophrenia to keep their thoughts straight or express what’s on their minds. This positive symptom causes a series of disjointed thoughts, making it hard to follow or make sense of what a loved one with schizophrenia is trying to say. Loose associations refer to illogical thinking or disconnected thoughts.
Option F: Other terms used to describe asociality are nonsocial, unsocial, social disinterest, or a lack of social drive. Asociality causes a lack of involvement in social relationships or an increased desire to spend time alone. This is different from a person who isolates him or herself after hearing voices or experiencing feelings of paranoia.