Question

the mother of a 25-year-old patient with schizophrenia asks the nurse why her daughter just sits around all day and doesnt talk. how should the nurse respond?

\your daughter is experiencing hallucinations causing her to regress into herself.\
\your daughter is having bizarre behaviors related to an excess of dopamine in her brain.\
\your daughter is experiencing negative symptoms, including anergia and communication difficulties.\
\your daughter may feel suspicious and aggressive towards you and your family because of her chemical imbalance.\

Explanation:

Analyze the patient's behaviors

The mother describes two behaviors:

1. "just sits around all day" (representing avolition/anergia)
2. "doesn't talk" (representing alogia/communication difficulties)

Classify the symptoms

These behaviors represent a loss or decrease in normal functioning, which are classified as negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Evaluate the response options

• Option 1 attributes the behavior to hallucinations (positive symptoms) and regression.
• Option 2 attributes the behavior to excess dopamine (associated with positive symptoms) and labels them "bizarre behaviors."
• Option 3 correctly identifies these behaviors as negative symptoms, specifically naming anergia and communication difficulties, which provides accurate, clinical, and non-judgmental education to the family.
• Option 4 attributes the behavior to suspicion and aggression, which does not match the described passive behaviors.

Answer:

• “Your daughter is experiencing hallucinations causing her to regress into herself.”
• “Your daughter is having bizarre behaviors related to an excess of dopamine in her brain.”
• “Your daughter is experiencing negative symptoms, including anergia and communication difficulties.” (Correct answer)
• “Your daughter may feel suspicious and aggressive towards you and your family because of her chemical imbalance.”