Which neurotransmitter is reduced in people with schizophrenia?
Dopamine
GABA
Acetylcholine
Serotonin
GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid)
Prenatal
... [Show More] and perinatal factors that result in the onset of schizophrenia include:
viral infection
maternal depression
maternal smoking
exposure to toxic waste
viral infection
Alterations in which part of the brain are linked to hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorders associated with schizophrenia?
Parietal lobe
Limbic system
Temporal lobe
Hypothalamus
temporal lobe
Which neurotransmitter receptors are blocked by antipsychotic drugs?
Norepinephrine
GABA
Serotonin
Dopamine
Dopamine
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system abnormalities exist in a large percentage of individuals with:
schizophrenia
major depression
mania
panic disorder
major depression
From 20% to 30% of individuals with depression have dysregulated:
sleep cycles
pitutiary function
thyroid function
eating patterns
thyroid function
The common property among the three types of medications used to treat depression is that they:
increase neurotransmitter levels within the synapse
decrease neurotransmitter levels in the postsynapse.
decrease neurotransmitter levels within the synapse.
increase neurotransmitter levels within the synapse
What is the link between major depression and cortisol secretion?
Individuals with depression show suppression of plasma cortisol when given dexamethasone.
Individuals with depression have a decreased plasma cortisol level despite administration of exogenous corticosteroids.
Individuals with depression continue to exhibit elevated plasma cortisol levels throughout the evening and early morning.
Individuals with depression have normal plasma cortisol levels throughout the day when they take antidepressant medication as prescribed.
Individuals with depression continue to exhibit elevated plasma cortisol levels throughout the evening and early morning.
A newly admitted patient diagnosed with schizophrenia is hypervigilant and constantly scans the environment. The patient states, "I saw two doctors talking in the hall. They were plotting to kill me." The nurse may correctly assess this behavior as:
echolalia
an idea of reference
a delusion of infidelity
an auditory hallucination
an idea of reference
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia says, "My co-workers are out to get me. I also saw two doctors plotting to kill me." How does this patient perceive the environment?
Disorganized
Dangerous
Supportive
Bizarre
Dangerous
When a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia was discharged 6 months ago, haloperidol (Haldol) was prescribed. The patient now says, "I stopped taking those pills. They made me feel like a robot." What are common side effects the nurse should validate with the patient?
Sedation and muscle stiffness
Sweating, nausea, and diarrhea
Mild fever, sore throat, & skin rash
Headache, watery eyes, & runny nose
Sedation and muscle stiffness
Which hallucination necessitates the nurse to implement safety measures? The patient says,
"I hear angels playing harps."
"The voices say everyone is trying to kill me."
"My dead father tells me I am a good person."
"The voices talk only at night when I'm trying to sleep."
"The voices say everyone is trying to kill me."
A patient's care plan includes monitoring for auditory hallucinations. Which assessment findings suggest the patient may be hallucinating?
Detachment and overconfidence
Darting eyes, tilted head, mumbling to self
Euphoric mood, hyperactivity, distractibility
Foot tapping and repeatedly writing the same phrase
Darting eyes, tilted head, mumbling to self
A health care provider considers which antipsychotic medication to prescribe for a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia who has auditory hallucinations and poor social function. The patient is also overweight and hypertensive. Which drug should the nurse advocate?
Clozapine
Ziprasidone
Olanzapine
Aripiprazole
Aripiprazole
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "I eat skiller. Tend to end. Easter. It blows away. Get it?" Select the nurse's best response.
"Nothing you are saying is clear."
"Your thoughts are very disconnected."
"Try to organize your thoughts and then tell me again."
"I am having difficulty understanding what you are saying."
"I am having difficulty understanding what you are saying."
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia exhibits little spontaneous movement and demonstrates waxy flexibility. Which patient needs are of priority importance?
Self-esteem
Psychological
Physiological
Self-Actualization
Physiological
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia demonstrates little spontaneous movement and has waxy flexibility. The patient's activities of daily living are severely compromised. An appropriate outcome would be that the patient will:
demonstrate increased interest in the environment by the end of week 1.
perform self-care activities with coaching by the end of day 3.
gradually take the initiative for self-care by the end of week 2.
accept tube feeding without objection by day 2.
perform self-care activities with coaching by the end of day 3.
A nurse observes a catatonic patient standing immobile, facing the wall with one arm extended in a salute. The patient remains immobile in this position for 15 minutes, moving only when the nurse gently lowers the arm. What is the name of this phenomenon?
Echolalia
Waxy flexibility
Depersonalization
Thought withdrawal
Waxy flexibility
A patient is experiencing delusions of persecution about being poisoned. The patient has refused all hospital meals for 3 days. Which intervention is most likely to be acceptable to the patient?
Allowing the patient supervised access to food vending machines
Allowing the patient to phone a local restaurant to deliver meals
Offering to taste each portion on the tray for the patient
Providing tube feedings or total parenteral nutrition
Allowing the patient supervised access to food vending machines
Withdrawn patients diagnosed with schizophrenia:
are usually violent toward caregivers.
universally fear sexual involvement with therapists.
exhibit a high degree of hostility as evidenced by rejecting behavior.
avoid relationships because they become anxious with emotional closeness.
avoid relationships because they become anxious with emotional closeness.
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia has taken fluphenazine (Prolixin) 5 mg po bid for 3 weeks. The nurse now observes a shuffling propulsive gait, a mask-like face, and drooling. Which term applies to these symptoms?
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Hepatocellular effects
Pseudoparkinsonism
Akathisia
Pseudoparkinsonism
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia is very disturbed and violent. After several doses of haloperidol (Haldol), the patient is calm. Two hours later the nurse sees the patient's head rotated to one side in a stiff position, the lower jaw thrust forward, and drooling. Which problem is most likely?
An acute dystonic reaction
Tardive dyskinesia
Waxy flexibility
Akathisia
An acute dystonic reaction
An acutely violent patient diagnosed with schizophrenia receives several doses of haloperidol (Haldol). Two hours later the nurse notices the patient's head rotated to one side in a stiffly fixed position, the lower jaw thrust forward, and drooling. Which intervention by the nurse is indicated?
Administer atropine sulfate 2 mg subcut from the PRN medication administration record.
Give trihexyphenidyl (Artane) 5 mg orally at the next regularly scheduled medication administration time.
Reassure the patient that the symptoms will subside. Practice relaxation exercises with the patient.
Administer diphenhydramine (Benadryl) 50 mg IM from the PRN medication administration record.
Administer diphenhydramine (Benadryl) 50 mg IM from the PRN medication administration record.
A patient took trifluoperazine 30 mg po daily for 3 years. The clinic nurse notes that the patient grimaces and constantly smacks both lips. The patient's neck and shoulders twist in a slow, snakelike motion. Which problem would the nurse suspect?
Agranulocytosis
Tardive dyskinesia
Tourette's syndrome
Anticholinergic effects
Tardive dyskinesia
A nurse sits with a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia. The patient starts to laugh uncontrollably, although the nurse has not said anything funny. Select the nurse's best response.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Please share the joke with me."
"I don't think I said anything funny."
"You're laughing. Tell me what's happening."
"You're laughing. Tell me what's happening."
What assessment findings mark the prodromal stage of schizophrenia?
Withdrawal, misinterpreting, poor concentration, and preoccupation with religion
Auditory hallucinations, ideas of reference, thought insertion, and broadcasting
Stereotyped behavior, echopraxia, echolalia, and waxy flexibility
Loose associations, concrete thinking, and echolalia neologisms
Withdrawal, misinterpreting, poor concentration, and preoccupation with religion
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia says, "Contagious bacteria are everywhere. When they get in your body, you will be locked up with other infected people." Which problem is evident?
Poverty of content
Concrete thinking
Neologisms
Paranoia
Paranoia
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia begins a new prescription for lurasidone HCL (Latuda). The patient is 5'6" and currently weighs 204 lbs. Which topic is most important for the nurse to include in the teaching plan related to this medication?
How to recognize tardive dyskinesia
Weight management strategies
Ways to manage constipation
sleep hygeine measures
Weight management strategies
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia says, "It's beat. Time to eat. No room for the cat." What type of verbalization is evident?
Neologism
Idea of reference
Thought broadcasting
Associative looseness
Associative looseness
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia has taken a conventional antipsychotic medication for a year. Hallucinations are less intrusive, but the patient continues to have apathy, poverty of thought, and social isolation. The nurse would expect a change to which medication?
Haloperidol
Olanzapine
Chlorpromazine
Diphenhydramine
Olanzapine
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia begins to talks about "macnabs" hiding in the warehouse at work. The term "macnabs" should be documented as:
a neologism
concrete thinking
through insertion
an idea of reference
a neologism
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia and auditory hallucinations anxiously tells the nurse, "The voice is telling me to do things." Select the nurse's priority assessment question.
"How long has the voice been directing your behavior?"
"Does what the voice tell you to do frighten you?"
"Do you recognize the voice speaking to you?"
"What is the voice telling you to do?"
"What is the voice telling you to do?"
A client says, "Facebook has a new tracking capacity. If I use the Internet, Homeland Security will detain me as a terrorist." Select the nurse's best initial action.
Tell the client, "Facebook is a safe website. You don't need to worry about Homeland Security."
Tell the client, "You are in a safe place where you will be helped."
Administer a prn dose of an antipsychotic medication.
Tell the client, "You don't need to worry about that."
Tell the client, "You are in a safe place where you will be helped." [Show Less]