Which of the following best describes avolition?
Lack of motivation
No emotion
Inability to experience pleasure
No empathy
The Correct Answer is A
A. Lack of motivation. Avolition is a negative symptom of schizophrenia characterized by a severe lack of motivation to initiate and sustain goal-directed activities. Individuals with avolition struggle with completing daily tasks, such as hygiene, work, or social interactions, which significantly impairs their functioning.
B. No emotion. This describes flat affect, where individuals show reduced emotional expression in facial expressions, voice tone, and body language. Flat affect is a separate negative symptom of schizophrenia, distinct from avolition.
C. Inability to experience pleasure. This describes anhedonia, which refers to the inability to feel pleasure from previously enjoyable activities. Anhedonia is commonly seen in schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD), and substance use disorders.
D. No empathy. Lack of empathy is more characteristic of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) or narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). While individuals with schizophrenia may struggle with social interactions, this is due to cognitive deficits rather than an absence of empathy.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder characterized by extreme food restriction, leading to nutritional deficiencies, weight loss, or dependence on supplements. Unlike anorexia, it is not driven by body image concerns but rather by sensory sensitivity, fear of choking, or lack of interest in eating.
B. Pica involves the persistent consumption of non-nutritive, non-food substances (e.g., chalk, paper, dirt) for at least one month. It is commonly associated with nutritional deficiencies (e.g., iron or zinc deficiency), pregnancy, and developmental disorders such as autism.
C. Rumination disorder is characterized by repeated regurgitation of food, which may be re-chewed, re-swallowed, or spit out. It is seen in infants, children, and individuals with intellectual disabilities and is not due to a gastrointestinal or medical condition.
D. Food picking disorder. There is no recognized disorder called "food picking disorder" in the DSM-5. While some individuals may display picky eating behaviors, this does not qualify as a clinical diagnosis unless it significantly impairs nutritional intake, as seen in ARFID.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a leading preventable cause of intellectual disability. Prenatal alcohol exposure disrupts brain development, leading to cognitive impairment, behavioral problems, and facial abnormalities.
B. Down syndrome (trisomy 21) is a genetic disorder that causes intellectual disability, developmental delays, and characteristic physical features. It results from an extra copy of chromosome 21, affecting brain development and cognitive function.
C. Serotonin syndrome is an acute, life-threatening condition caused by excessive serotonin activity due to medication overdose or drug interactions (e.g., SSRIs, MAOIs, MDMA). Symptoms include hyperreflexia, autonomic instability, and altered mental status, but it does not cause intellectual disability.
D. Fragile X syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the FMR1 gene on the X chromosome. It is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability, leading to cognitive impairments, social anxiety, and hyperactivity, often resembling autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
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