Question 1

A 17-year-old male is brought to the clinic by a parent who is concerned that the patient has become more isolated and withdrawn. The patient has expressed suspicions that his teachers hate him and want him to fail. What will the provider tell this parent?

A) The adolescent should be evaluated by a psychiatrist.
B) The adolescent should be given a trial of antipsychotic medications.
C) These are common adolescent behaviors and will eventually go away.
D) These signs are diagnostic for schizophrenia.

A

Accepted Answer

The patient's behavior and expressed delusions suggest the need for further evaluation by a mental health professional, specifically a psychiatrist who can assess for the presence of a psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia. Antipsychotic medication should not be prescribed without a thorough diagnostic assessment. It is important to take these symptoms seriously and seek appropriate care.

Question 2

Which are considered &#34;negative&#34; symptoms of schizophrenia? (Select all that apply.)&#10;A) Auditory hallucinations&#10;B) Delusions of persecution&#10;C) Impaired self-care&#10;D) Poor school performance&#10;E) Withdrawing from peers

Accepted Answer

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia are those that involve a decrease or loss of normal functions. Impaired self-care, poor school performance, and withdrawing from peers are examples of such symptoms, reflecting a reduction in the ability to perform daily activities, succeed academically, and engage socially.

Question 3

A young male patient is reported to be more withdrawn from his peers than usual and has dropped out of college and quit his job within the last 5 months. The parent is concerned that the patient may have schizophrenia because a maternal uncle has the disease. What will the provider do next?

A) Ask about the patient's speech and thinking patterns
B) Consider treatment with antipsychotic medications
C) Reassure that classic symptoms of schizophrenia are not present
D) Refer the patient for inpatient psychiatric treatment

A

Accepted Answer

The provider should first ask about the patient's speech and thinking patterns to assess for symptoms of psychosis or other signs of schizophrenia. This will help to determine if further evaluation or treatment is necessary. Considering treatment with antipsychotic medications or referring the patient for inpatient psychiatric treatment without a thorough evaluation would not be appropriate. Reassuring the parent without conducting a proper evaluation could delay diagnosis and treatment if the patient is indeed experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia.

Deck 228: Other Mental Health Disorders