Amy is a 57-year-old inpatient with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. She dislikes the smell of food and avoids eating when possible. Amy's doctors are concerned about her nutritional status. What interventions could you try with Amy to desensitize her sense of smell, so she can eat?
A)Have Amy smell foods that she dislikes to desensitize her to their presence.
B)Have Amy smell essential oils from bottles to stimulate her appetite.
C)Place an essential oils diffuser in Amy's room, and load it with oils that are designed to stimulate her appetite.
D)Tell Amy she must eat or her doctor will make her use a feeding tube.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

One intervention you could try with Amy is to place an essential oils diffuser in her room with oils that are designed to stimulate her appetite. Amy is likely to resist attempts to get her to smell or eat food or to smell essential oils directly. A diffuser would expose Amy to the smell of the essential oils subtly, without her direct knowledge. This will increase the chance that the intervention will be effective.

Amy Is a 57-Year-Old Inpatient with a Diagnosis of Schizophrenia