A health care provider considers which antipsychotic medication to prescribe for a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia who has auditory hallucinations and poor social function. The patient is also overweight and hypertensive. Which drug should the nurse advocate?

A. Stereotyped behavior, echopraxia, echolalia, and waxy flexibility are characteristic of the catatonic stage of schizophrenia, not the prodromal stage.

B. Auditory hallucinations, ideas of reference, thought insertion, and broadcasting are positive symptoms that typically emerge during the active stage of schizophrenia.

C. Loose associations, concrete thinking, and neologisms also represent active-phase symptoms and are not typical in the prodromal stage.

D. The prodromal stage is marked by subtle changes in behavior and cognition, including social withdrawal, misinterpretation of events, poor concentration, and preoccupation with unusual thoughts or religion. These signs precede the onset of full-blown psychotic symptoms.

A. Culturally influenced responses relate to behaviors shaped by cultural norms, not a temporary feeling of restlessness before a test.
B. Mild anxiety is characterized by increased alertness, restlessness, and improved concentration, which can actually enhance performance on tasks like taking a test.
C. Displacement is a defense mechanism in which emotions are transferred to a less threatening object or person, not simply feeling restless.
D. Trait anxiety refers to a long-term personality characteristic of being generally anxious, not a situational response before an exam.