CHAPTER 16 SCHIZOPHRENIA EXAM #3 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE 2026/2027
The parent of a client who has a delusional disorder spends a great deal of time and energy
trying to convince the client that the client is not actually the focus of a nationwide, secret plot
to track the client's activities. Which of the client's responses is most typical of an individual
with a delusional disorder?
"I'll consider what you think, but this is something I really, really need."
"I've told you before that I can't just snap my fingers and change the way I think."
"You're so naïve. You just don't understand what's really happening out there."
"I know I've got delusions, but you would too if you had to live my life." - Answers you are so
naïve. you dont understand what is really happening out there
NOTE: Individuals with delusional disorders have no insight into their condition and typically
believe that others are ignorant to the true reality.
A client is diagnosed with a delusional disorder. While providing care to the client, the nurse
assesses the client's delusions. Which would be least appropriate for the nurse to do?
Try to change the client's delusional belief
Evaluate the significance to the client
Determine the impact of the delusion on the client's safety
Avoid dwelling on the delusion - Answers try to change the client's delusional belief
NOTE: delusions are fixed, false beliefs that cannot be changed by reasonable arguments. The
nurse should assess the client's delusion to evaluate its significance to the client, to the client's
safety, and to the safety of others. The nurse should not dwell on the delusion or try to change it.
In working with the individual and family, which is the most accurate statement the nurse can
make in order to teach the client and family about schizophrenia?
,"Individuals with schizophrenia do have differences in brain structure and function that cause a
variety of symptoms such as lack of motivation and hearing voices."
"Schizophrenia is being found to be related more closely to family dysfunction than to
physiology, which is why family therapy is the most effective treatment for this disorder."
"Medications for schizophrenia have not changed much since the early 1950s, although there
are some medications that may be helpful."
"It is more effective to treat the individual on a one-to-one basis than to involve the family in
treatment because it is a very complicated process." - Answers "Individuals with schizophrenia
do have differences in brain structure and function that cause a variety of symptoms such as
lack of motivation and hearing voices."
NOTE: Excessive amount of the neurotransmitter dopamine allows nerve impulses to bombard
the mesolimbic pathway, the part of the brain normally involved in arousal and motivation.
Normal cell communications are disrupted, resulting in the development of hallucinations and
delusions.
A client with schizophrenia is experiencing delusions. The client states, "My face is melting and
my nose is about to fall off. Don't let it fall off!" The nurse interprets this statement as which
type of delusion?
grandiose
nihilistic
persecutory
somatic - Answers nihilistic
NOTE: A nihilistic delusion involves the client belief that the client's organs aren't functioning or
some body part or feature is horribly disfigured. A grandiose delusion involves the belief that
one has exceptional powers, wealth, skill, influence, or destiny. A persecutory delusion involves
the belief that one is being watched, ridiculed, harmed, or plotted against. A somatic delusion
involves a belief about abnormalities in bodily structure or functions.
A client with a delusional disorder has been undergoing individual psychotherapy. The therapy
would be deemed ultimately successful when the client meets which outcome?
, The client will identify alternatives to present coping patterns.
The client will describe problems relating to others.
The client will identify situations that evoke anxiety.
The client will differentiate between reality and fantasy. - Answers the client will differentiate
between reality and fantasy
The nurse is providing teaching to a client diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. The nurse
should explain to the client that which is true about this disorder?
It is more common than schizophrenia.
It is usually diagnosed in late adulthood.
It is most common with somatoform disorders.
It is a mix of psychotic and mood symptoms. - Answers it is a mix of psychotic and mood
symptoms
Research related to the development of schizophrenia has shown what?
The likelihood of developing schizophrenia for a sibling of a person with the disorder is less
than that of individuals in the general population.
The disorder is thought to arise from the interaction of a biological predisposition and
environmental stressors.
Behavioral family pathology, not genetics, is the primary risk factor for the development of
schizophrenia.
If an identical twin develops schizophrenia, the other twin will also develop the disorder. -
Answers the disorder is thought to arise from their interaction of biological predisposition and
environmental stressor
Which type of delusion refers to a situation whereby a person or someone close to person is
being malevolently treated in some way?
Grandiose type
Persecutory type
UPDATE 2026/2027
The parent of a client who has a delusional disorder spends a great deal of time and energy
trying to convince the client that the client is not actually the focus of a nationwide, secret plot
to track the client's activities. Which of the client's responses is most typical of an individual
with a delusional disorder?
"I'll consider what you think, but this is something I really, really need."
"I've told you before that I can't just snap my fingers and change the way I think."
"You're so naïve. You just don't understand what's really happening out there."
"I know I've got delusions, but you would too if you had to live my life." - Answers you are so
naïve. you dont understand what is really happening out there
NOTE: Individuals with delusional disorders have no insight into their condition and typically
believe that others are ignorant to the true reality.
A client is diagnosed with a delusional disorder. While providing care to the client, the nurse
assesses the client's delusions. Which would be least appropriate for the nurse to do?
Try to change the client's delusional belief
Evaluate the significance to the client
Determine the impact of the delusion on the client's safety
Avoid dwelling on the delusion - Answers try to change the client's delusional belief
NOTE: delusions are fixed, false beliefs that cannot be changed by reasonable arguments. The
nurse should assess the client's delusion to evaluate its significance to the client, to the client's
safety, and to the safety of others. The nurse should not dwell on the delusion or try to change it.
In working with the individual and family, which is the most accurate statement the nurse can
make in order to teach the client and family about schizophrenia?
,"Individuals with schizophrenia do have differences in brain structure and function that cause a
variety of symptoms such as lack of motivation and hearing voices."
"Schizophrenia is being found to be related more closely to family dysfunction than to
physiology, which is why family therapy is the most effective treatment for this disorder."
"Medications for schizophrenia have not changed much since the early 1950s, although there
are some medications that may be helpful."
"It is more effective to treat the individual on a one-to-one basis than to involve the family in
treatment because it is a very complicated process." - Answers "Individuals with schizophrenia
do have differences in brain structure and function that cause a variety of symptoms such as
lack of motivation and hearing voices."
NOTE: Excessive amount of the neurotransmitter dopamine allows nerve impulses to bombard
the mesolimbic pathway, the part of the brain normally involved in arousal and motivation.
Normal cell communications are disrupted, resulting in the development of hallucinations and
delusions.
A client with schizophrenia is experiencing delusions. The client states, "My face is melting and
my nose is about to fall off. Don't let it fall off!" The nurse interprets this statement as which
type of delusion?
grandiose
nihilistic
persecutory
somatic - Answers nihilistic
NOTE: A nihilistic delusion involves the client belief that the client's organs aren't functioning or
some body part or feature is horribly disfigured. A grandiose delusion involves the belief that
one has exceptional powers, wealth, skill, influence, or destiny. A persecutory delusion involves
the belief that one is being watched, ridiculed, harmed, or plotted against. A somatic delusion
involves a belief about abnormalities in bodily structure or functions.
A client with a delusional disorder has been undergoing individual psychotherapy. The therapy
would be deemed ultimately successful when the client meets which outcome?
, The client will identify alternatives to present coping patterns.
The client will describe problems relating to others.
The client will identify situations that evoke anxiety.
The client will differentiate between reality and fantasy. - Answers the client will differentiate
between reality and fantasy
The nurse is providing teaching to a client diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. The nurse
should explain to the client that which is true about this disorder?
It is more common than schizophrenia.
It is usually diagnosed in late adulthood.
It is most common with somatoform disorders.
It is a mix of psychotic and mood symptoms. - Answers it is a mix of psychotic and mood
symptoms
Research related to the development of schizophrenia has shown what?
The likelihood of developing schizophrenia for a sibling of a person with the disorder is less
than that of individuals in the general population.
The disorder is thought to arise from the interaction of a biological predisposition and
environmental stressors.
Behavioral family pathology, not genetics, is the primary risk factor for the development of
schizophrenia.
If an identical twin develops schizophrenia, the other twin will also develop the disorder. -
Answers the disorder is thought to arise from their interaction of biological predisposition and
environmental stressor
Which type of delusion refers to a situation whereby a person or someone close to person is
being malevolently treated in some way?
Grandiose type
Persecutory type
