Question

the nursing assistant tells the nurse that a patient with schizophrenia is distractible and seems like he is in his own world. how should the nurse explain this behavior to the nursing assistant?

the patient is experiencing a symptom known as autism.
the patient is experiencing a symptom known as ambivalence.
the patient is experiencing a symptom known as concrete thinking.
the patient is experiencing a symptom known as thought-blocking.

Explanation:

Analyze the patient's described behavior

The patient is described as "distractible and seems like he is in his own world." This state of being detached from reality and focused inward on one's private fantasy world is a classic description of "autism" as defined in Bleuler's Four As of schizophrenia.

Evaluate the clinical definitions of the options

• Autism: A withdrawal from the external world into a private, subjective, and fantasy-dominated inner world. This matches "in his own world."
• Ambivalence: Coexisting opposing feelings or attitudes toward the same person, object, or situation.
• Concrete thinking: An inability to think abstractly, interpreting language literally.
• Thought-blocking: A sudden interruption in the train of thought, where the person stops speaking mid-sentence and cannot recall what they were saying.

Select the correct option

The behavior "seems like he is in his own world" directly corresponds to the clinical definition of autism in the context of schizophrenia symptoms.

Answer:

• The patient is experiencing a symptom known as autism. (Correct answer)
• The patient is experiencing a symptom known as ambivalence.
• The patient is experiencing a symptom known as concrete thinking.
• The patient is experiencing a symptom known as thought-blocking.