1|Page
ATI Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
and Psychosis NEWEST 2026 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND EXPERT VERIFIED
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
A nurse is caring for a client who is being evaluated for schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Which
of the following is used to determine a diagnosis for schizophrenia?
a. Reality testing
b. Laboratory testing
c. Neurological testing
d. Clinical observation--//ANS//--d. Clinical observation
Rational: There is no laboratory test that can provide a definitive diagnosis of schizophrenia, so
observation and ruling out other medical conditions and substance exposure provides diagnosis.
A nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Which of the
following findings indicates that they client is in the residual phase of the disorder?
a. No longer showing any noticeable negative symptoms
b. Experiencing regular delusions and hallucinations
c. Extended periods of disorganized thought and speech
d. Decline in symptoms of psychosis--//ANS//--d. Decline in symptoms of psychosis
,2|Page
Rational: A nurse should expect a client who is in the residual phase of schizophrenia to exhibit
less severe and regular psychotic symptoms.
A nurse is instructing a client who is experiencing hallucinations about medication use. Which of
the following statements should the nurse make?
a. "Over-the-counter medications do not generally cause hallucinations."
b. "Both prescription and over-the-counter medications can sometimes cause hallucinations in
some people."
c. "Hallucinations from medication are extremely rare."
d. "Hallucinations are only caused by acute toxicity from a medication."--//ANS//--b. "Both
prescription and over-the-counter medications can sometimes cause hallucinations in some
people."
Rational: Both prescription and over-the-counter medications have been reported to cause
hallucinations in some people.
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia. Which of the following describes the
physiological changes caused by exposure to risk factors for this disorder?
a. Increased volume in the hippocampus of the brain
b. Decreased grey matter volume in the brain
c. Structural changes in the part of the brain that regulates impulse control
d. Increased volume of the frontal cortex--//ANS//--b. Decreased grey matter volume in the brain
, 3|Page
Rational: Decreased brain volume including gray matter are evident in persons with
schizophrenia. These brain changes include the structural changes in connective tissue and
reduction of brain volume in gray matter, prefrontal cortex, and temporal cortices.
A nurse is working in a community health center is providing an in-service to a group of
residents about schizophrenia. Which of the following should the nurse include as an
environmental risk factor for this condition?
a. Living in a rural community
b. Experiencing poverty
c. Smoking cigarettes
d. Managing extreme weather conditions--//ANS//--b. Experiencing poverty
Rational: Low socioeconomic status is an environmental risk factor associated with
schizophrenia. As a result of living below the poverty line, clients lack adequate resources for
medical and psychological issues, housing, and food.
A nurse at a community treatment center asks a client about their use of a prescribed anti-
psychotic medication that should be taken daily. Which of the following client statements should
suggest to the nurse that the client is not adhering to their medication treatment plan?
a. "I sometimes go a few days without taking my medication."
b. "I take my medication at a different time every day."
c. "I sometimes forget to take my medication with food like it says on the bottle."
ATI Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
and Psychosis NEWEST 2026 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND EXPERT VERIFIED
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
A nurse is caring for a client who is being evaluated for schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Which
of the following is used to determine a diagnosis for schizophrenia?
a. Reality testing
b. Laboratory testing
c. Neurological testing
d. Clinical observation--//ANS//--d. Clinical observation
Rational: There is no laboratory test that can provide a definitive diagnosis of schizophrenia, so
observation and ruling out other medical conditions and substance exposure provides diagnosis.
A nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Which of the
following findings indicates that they client is in the residual phase of the disorder?
a. No longer showing any noticeable negative symptoms
b. Experiencing regular delusions and hallucinations
c. Extended periods of disorganized thought and speech
d. Decline in symptoms of psychosis--//ANS//--d. Decline in symptoms of psychosis
,2|Page
Rational: A nurse should expect a client who is in the residual phase of schizophrenia to exhibit
less severe and regular psychotic symptoms.
A nurse is instructing a client who is experiencing hallucinations about medication use. Which of
the following statements should the nurse make?
a. "Over-the-counter medications do not generally cause hallucinations."
b. "Both prescription and over-the-counter medications can sometimes cause hallucinations in
some people."
c. "Hallucinations from medication are extremely rare."
d. "Hallucinations are only caused by acute toxicity from a medication."--//ANS//--b. "Both
prescription and over-the-counter medications can sometimes cause hallucinations in some
people."
Rational: Both prescription and over-the-counter medications have been reported to cause
hallucinations in some people.
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia. Which of the following describes the
physiological changes caused by exposure to risk factors for this disorder?
a. Increased volume in the hippocampus of the brain
b. Decreased grey matter volume in the brain
c. Structural changes in the part of the brain that regulates impulse control
d. Increased volume of the frontal cortex--//ANS//--b. Decreased grey matter volume in the brain
, 3|Page
Rational: Decreased brain volume including gray matter are evident in persons with
schizophrenia. These brain changes include the structural changes in connective tissue and
reduction of brain volume in gray matter, prefrontal cortex, and temporal cortices.
A nurse is working in a community health center is providing an in-service to a group of
residents about schizophrenia. Which of the following should the nurse include as an
environmental risk factor for this condition?
a. Living in a rural community
b. Experiencing poverty
c. Smoking cigarettes
d. Managing extreme weather conditions--//ANS//--b. Experiencing poverty
Rational: Low socioeconomic status is an environmental risk factor associated with
schizophrenia. As a result of living below the poverty line, clients lack adequate resources for
medical and psychological issues, housing, and food.
A nurse at a community treatment center asks a client about their use of a prescribed anti-
psychotic medication that should be taken daily. Which of the following client statements should
suggest to the nurse that the client is not adhering to their medication treatment plan?
a. "I sometimes go a few days without taking my medication."
b. "I take my medication at a different time every day."
c. "I sometimes forget to take my medication with food like it says on the bottle."
