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 seeming "like he is in his own world." This state of detachment from reality and withdrawal into an inner world of fantasy, thoughts, and self-absorption is a classic clinical description of "autism" as defined in historical psychiatric terminology (specifically Eugen Bleuler's "Four As" of schizophrenia: Association, Affect, Ambivalence, and Autism).

Evaluate the multiple-choice options

• Autism: Historically defined in schizophrenia as a withdrawal from the external world into a private, subjective, and self-focused inner world. This matches "seems like he is in his own world."
• Ambivalence: The coexistence of opposing attitudes or emotions toward the same person, object, or situation.
• Concrete thinking: An inability to think abstractly, interpreting language and situations 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.

Answer:

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