Schizophrenia Q 63
Jaime has a diagnosis of schizophrenia with negative symptoms. In planning care for the client, Nurse Brienne would anticipate a problem with:
A. Auditory hallucinations
B. Bizarre behaviors
C. Ideas of reference
D. Motivation for activities
Correct Answer: D. Motivation for activities.
In a client demonstrating negative symptoms of schizophrenia, avolition, or the lack of motivation for activities, is a common problem. These “negative” symptoms are so-called because they are an absence as much as a presence: inexpressive faces, blank looks, monotone, and monosyllabic speech, few gestures, seeming lack of interest in the world and other people, inability to feel pleasure or act spontaneously. It is important to distinguish between lack of expression and lack of feeling, between lack of will and lack of activity. When questioned, patients with schizophrenia often express a full range of feelings and desires.
Option A: 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 a positive symptom for people with schizophrenia. The phrase “positive symptoms” refers to symptoms that are in ?excess or added to normal mental functioning.
Option B: Another positive symptom of schizophrenia is disorganized or abnormal movements or motor behaviors. An example of this is catatonic behavior, which involves a decreased reactivity to the environment. Catatonia is marked by a significant decrease in someone’s reactivity to their environment. This can involve stupor, mutism, negativism or motor rigidity, and even purposeless excitement.
Option C: A belief that gestures, comments, or other cues have special meaning directed at oneself. Delusions can be bizarre, such as the belief that one’s organs have been removed by aliens, or non-bizarre, such as believing one is under surveillance by the police.