A nurse is assisting in a group therapy meeting and is sharing a humorous story unrelated to anyone in the group.
When the group laughs at the story, a client who has schizophrenia jumps up and runs out while yelling “You are all making fun of me!” Which of the following behaviors is this client displaying?

Answer and explanation

Choice A rationale:

Impaired judgment is a cognitive symptom of schizophrenia, not a positive symptom. It involves difficulties with decisionmaking, problem-solving, and understanding consequences. While it's a significant feature of schizophrenia, it doesn't reflect an excess or distortion of normal functions, which is the hallmark of positive symptoms.

Choice B rationale:

Dysphoria refers to a depressed mood or a state of unhappiness and dissatisfaction. It's a negative symptom of schizophrenia, characterized by a decrease or absence of normal functions. It's not considered a positive symptom as it doesn't involve an excess or distortion of normal processes.

Choice C rationale:

Disorganized speech is a hallmark positive symptom of schizophrenia. It involves significant disruptions in the way a person speaks and communicates. It can manifest in several ways, including: Derailment: Abrupt shifts in topic without logical connection

Tangentiality: Responding to questions in irrelevant or oblique ways

Incoherence: Speech that is fragmented and difficult to understand

Loose associations: Combining words or phrases in a way that lacks logical sense

Neologisms: Creating new words or phrases that have meaning only to the speaker

Word salad: Severely disorganized speech that is essentially incomprehensible

Disorganized speech is considered a positive symptom because it reflects an excess or distortion of normal speech processes. It's a core feature of schizophrenia and often has a significant impact on communication and social functioning.

Choice D rationale:

Anhedonia is the inability to experience pleasure. It's a negative symptom of schizophrenia, characterized by a decrease or absence of normal emotional responses. It's not considered a positive symptom as it doesn't involve an excess or distortion of normal processes.

Choice A rationale:

Administering an anti-anxiety medication may not be the most appropriate first action. While medication can help to reduce anxiety, it does not address the underlying issue of suicidal ideation. In some cases, medications can even increase the risk of suicide, especially in the first few weeks of treatment.

Instituting mouth checks to assure the medication is swallowed is not a standard practice in this situation. It is more important to focus on ensuring the client's safety and providing emotional support.

Choice B rationale:

Informing the provider about the client's statement is important, but it is not the first action that the nurse should take. The priority is to ensure the client's immediate safety.

The provider can be informed after the client has been stabilized and is no longer at immediate risk of harm.

Choice C rationale:

Assuring that a staff member stays with the client at all times is the most important first step in ensuring the client's safety. This will help to prevent the client from acting on their suicidal thoughts and provide an opportunity for the nurse to assess the client's risk for suicide and intervene as needed.

It also allows the nurse to provide emotional support and reassurance to the client.

Choice D rationale:

Questioning the client about a suicide plan and method is important, but it should not be done until the client's safety has been ensured. Asking about a suicide plan can be triggering for some clients and may increase their risk of suicide.

It is important to approach this topic sensitively and only when the client is feeling safe and supported.