Question

trey is convinced that the government has sent a secret task force to capture him. he has worked at a hardware store since graduating from high school 3 years ago, but his concerns about the task force have recently caused him to miss a number of days of work. he has also been disciplined for spending time in the storeroom instead of helping customers. trey explained to his boss that \they\ were less likely to find him in the storeroom.

trey is likely to be diagnosed with which of the following?

disorganized schizophrenia
paranoid schizophrenia
catatonic schizophrenia
undifferentiated schizophrenia

Explanation:

Analyze Trey's symptoms

Trey believes the government has sent a secret task force to capture him. This is a fixed, false belief despite evidence to the contrary, which is clinically defined as a delusion. Specifically, because he believes he is being targeted, followed, or persecuted, this is a persecutory (or paranoid) delusion.

Evaluate the behavior

His behavior of hiding in the storeroom to avoid being found by "them" directly stems from this persecutory belief. He is acting defensively to protect himself from a perceived threat, which is a classic behavioral manifestation of paranoia.

Compare schizophrenia subtypes

• Disorganized schizophrenia is characterized by disorganized speech, disorganized behavior, and flat or inappropriate affect.
• Paranoid schizophrenia is dominated by systematic delusions (often persecutory or grandiose) and auditory hallucinations, while cognitive functions and affect remain relatively preserved.
• Catatonic schizophrenia involves extreme psychomotor disruptions, such as immobility, mutism, or purposeless excessive motor activity.
• Undifferentiated schizophrenia is diagnosed when symptoms meet the general criteria for schizophrenia but do not fit clearly into the paranoid, disorganized, or catatonic subtypes.

Determine the best fit

Trey's prominent symptom is a highly structured persecutory delusion (the government task force coming to capture him) and actions driven by this fear. This matches the clinical presentation of paranoid schizophrenia.

Answer:

• Disorganized schizophrenia
• Paranoid schizophrenia (Correct answer)
• Catatonic schizophrenia
• Undifferentiated schizophrenia