Question

on admission, a client who is highly anxious describes a delusion. the nurse understands that delusions are most likely to occur with which class of disorder?
neurotic.
personality.
anxiety.
psychotic.

Explanation:

Define delusions and their clinical classification

Delusions are fixed, false beliefs that are not amenable to change in light of conflicting evidence. They represent a gross impairment in reality testing, which is the defining hallmark of psychosis.

Differentiate between the provided classes of disorders

• Neurotic disorders (such as mild depression or obsessive-compulsive tendencies) and Anxiety disorders involve distressing symptoms but reality testing remains intact.
• Personality disorders involve deeply ingrained, maladaptive patterns of behavior and relating, but do not typically feature primary delusions as a core characteristic.
• Psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia or delusional disorder) are explicitly characterized by a loss of contact with reality, where delusions and hallucinations are the primary clinical features.

Answer:

• Neurotic.
• Personality.
• Anxiety.
• Psychotic. (Correct answer)