Janie is a healthy female adolescent with no history of substance abuse who presents to the mental health clinic.Janie tells the nurse that she has experienced several episodes where she feels like she is watching a movie of herself where she is floating above and watching herself as an outside observer.Janie asks the nurse what is wrong with her.Which statement made by the nurse is most appropriate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should not jump to conclusions about Janie's diagnosis without further assessment. Option A is incorrect because derealization disorder involves feeling detached from one's surroundings, not necessarily experiencing an outside observer perspective. Option C is incorrect because schizophrenia requires a range of symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions, not just the experience of feeling like an outside observer. Option D is incorrect because while hormonal changes can affect mood and behavior in adolescents, Janie's symptoms are not simply typical of someone going through puberty. The nurse should suggest further evaluation by the psychiatrist to determine if Janie meets criteria for depersonalization disorder or another diagnosis.

Janie Is a Healthy Female Adolescent with No History of Substance