A paranoid client presents with bizarre behaviors, neologisms, and thought insertion. Which nursing action should be prioritized to maintain this clients safety?

A. "The nurse shuffles through papers to determine the facility policy on length of group": This action suggests the nurse is seeking information to guide the group effectively, indicating an active leadership role rather than a laissez-faire style.

B. "The nurse mandates that all group members reveal an embarrassing personal situation": This action involves imposing a specific requirement on group members, which is not characteristic of a laissez-faire leadership style. It's more indicative of an authoritarian or directive approach.

C. "The nurse asks for a show of hands to determine group topic preference": Seeking input from group members is a participative leadership style rather than laissez-faire. Laissez-faire leadership involves minimal interference or direction from the leader.

D. "The nurse sits silently as the group members stray from the assigned topic": This action aligns with a laissez-faire leadership style, as the nurse is allowing the group to proceed without intervention or redirection, even if it means straying from the assigned topic.

A. Axons: Axons are nerve cell processes that transmit signals away from the cell body. While axons are essential for communication between nerve cells, their structure or function is not directly implicated in the altered behavior associated with schizophrenia.

B. Neurotransmitters: This is the correct answer. In schizophrenia, there is evidence of dysregulation in neurotransmitter systems, particularly dopamine. Dopamine dysregulation is associated with both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. In the case of negative symptoms, such as social withdrawal and reduced emotional expression, hypoactivity in dopamine pathways may play a role.

C. Dendrites: Dendrites are nerve cell processes that receive signals from other neurons. Similar to axons, dendrites are crucial for communication between nerve cells, but their structure or function is not specifically implicated in the altered behavior associated with schizophrenia.

D. Synapses: Synapses are the junctions between nerve cells where neurotransmitters are released to transmit signals. While synapses play a critical role in neurotransmission, the altered behavior in schizophrenia is more closely linked to the dysregulation of neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine, than to structural changes in synapses.