SCHIZOPHRENIA NCLEX QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWER
GRADED A+
1. Positive symptoms of 1. Dopamine
schizophrenia, specifically
hallucinations and delu- Positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as
sions, are thought to be delusions and hallucinations, are thought to
caused by hyperactivity of be caused by dopamine hyperactivity in the
which neurotransmitter? mesolimbic tract at the D2 receptor site in the
striatal area, where memory and emotion are
1. Dopamine regulated. Hyperactivity of acetylcholine, nor-
2. Norepinephrine epinephrine, and epinephrine are not associat-
3. Acetylcholine ed with schizophrenia
4. Epinephrine
2. Which of the following are 1. One or more major areas of social or occu-
key diagnostic criteria of pational functioning markedly below previously
schizophrenia? SATA achieved levels
2. Continuous signs for at least six months
1. One or more major ar- 3. Delusions present for a significant portion of
eas of social or occupa- time during a one-month period
tional functioning markedly
below previously achieved Key diagnostic criteria includes continuous
levels signs for at least six months, one or more ma-
2. Continuous signs for at jor areas of social or occupational functioning
least six months markedly below previously achieved levels, and
3. Delusions present for a delusions present for a significant portion of
significant portion of time time during a one-month period. Other criteria
during a one-month period include the absence, or insignificant duration,
4. Major depression occur- of major depressive, manic, or mixed episodes
ring concurrently with ac- occurring concurrently with active symptoms,
tive symptoms and that the disease is not a direct physiologic
5. A direct physiologic ef- effect of a substance or medical condition
fect of a substance or med-
ical condition
3. After teaching a group 3. Dopamine
of nursing students about
neurotransmitters associ- Positive symptoms of schizophrenia, specifical-
ated with schizophrenia, ly hallucinations and delusions, are thought to
the nursing instructor de- be related to dopamine hyperactivity. Studies
termines that the education are revealing that schizophrenia does not result
1/7
, SCHIZOPHRENIA NCLEX QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWER
GRADED A+
was successful when the from the dysregulation of a single neurotrans-
students verify which of the mitter or biogenic amine, such as norepineph-
following as playing a role rine or serotonin. Hypothesis suggests a role
in the positive symptoms of for glutamate and GABA. However, dopamine
schizophrenia? dysfunction is also thought to be involved in
psychosis with other disorders
1. Glutamate
2. Serotonin
3. Dopamine
4. Gamma-aminobutyric
acid (GABA)
4. Clients diagnosed with 3. Hyponatremia
schizophrenia may experi-
ence disordered water bal- Hyponatremia is a life-threatening complication
ance that may lead to water of unknown cause. When a client ingests an
intoxication. Which of the unusually large volume of water, the kidneys'
following may occur as a re- capacity to excrete water is overwhelmed, and
sult of water intoxication? serum sodium levels rapidly fall below the nor-
mal range of 135 to 145 mEq/L, to a neurologi-
1. Oliguria cal signs such as muscle twitching and irritabil-
2. Hypernatremia ity, and the client is at risk for seizures, coma or
3. Hyponatremia possible death. Polyuria and increased diurnal
4. Weight loss weight gain may occur.
5. When preparing a class 4. Improvement in symptoms can occur as a
presentation about schizo- client with a history of schizophrenia reaches
phrenia, which of the fol- older adulthood
lowing would the nurse
most likely include? People with schizophrenia do reach older adult-
hood and others develop schizophrenia late in
1. Delusions are more com- life. For older clients who have had schizophre-
monly noted in younger nia since young adulthood, this mat be a times
children with schizophre- in which they experience some improvement in
nia symptoms or decrease in relapse fluctuations.
2. Schizophrenia is more The diagnosis of schizophrenia in children be-
commonly diagnosed in fore adolescence is rare. If it does occur, hallu-
children than in adoles- cinations tend to be more visual and delusions
cents are less developed
2/7
GRADED A+
1. Positive symptoms of 1. Dopamine
schizophrenia, specifically
hallucinations and delu- Positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as
sions, are thought to be delusions and hallucinations, are thought to
caused by hyperactivity of be caused by dopamine hyperactivity in the
which neurotransmitter? mesolimbic tract at the D2 receptor site in the
striatal area, where memory and emotion are
1. Dopamine regulated. Hyperactivity of acetylcholine, nor-
2. Norepinephrine epinephrine, and epinephrine are not associat-
3. Acetylcholine ed with schizophrenia
4. Epinephrine
2. Which of the following are 1. One or more major areas of social or occu-
key diagnostic criteria of pational functioning markedly below previously
schizophrenia? SATA achieved levels
2. Continuous signs for at least six months
1. One or more major ar- 3. Delusions present for a significant portion of
eas of social or occupa- time during a one-month period
tional functioning markedly
below previously achieved Key diagnostic criteria includes continuous
levels signs for at least six months, one or more ma-
2. Continuous signs for at jor areas of social or occupational functioning
least six months markedly below previously achieved levels, and
3. Delusions present for a delusions present for a significant portion of
significant portion of time time during a one-month period. Other criteria
during a one-month period include the absence, or insignificant duration,
4. Major depression occur- of major depressive, manic, or mixed episodes
ring concurrently with ac- occurring concurrently with active symptoms,
tive symptoms and that the disease is not a direct physiologic
5. A direct physiologic ef- effect of a substance or medical condition
fect of a substance or med-
ical condition
3. After teaching a group 3. Dopamine
of nursing students about
neurotransmitters associ- Positive symptoms of schizophrenia, specifical-
ated with schizophrenia, ly hallucinations and delusions, are thought to
the nursing instructor de- be related to dopamine hyperactivity. Studies
termines that the education are revealing that schizophrenia does not result
1/7
, SCHIZOPHRENIA NCLEX QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWER
GRADED A+
was successful when the from the dysregulation of a single neurotrans-
students verify which of the mitter or biogenic amine, such as norepineph-
following as playing a role rine or serotonin. Hypothesis suggests a role
in the positive symptoms of for glutamate and GABA. However, dopamine
schizophrenia? dysfunction is also thought to be involved in
psychosis with other disorders
1. Glutamate
2. Serotonin
3. Dopamine
4. Gamma-aminobutyric
acid (GABA)
4. Clients diagnosed with 3. Hyponatremia
schizophrenia may experi-
ence disordered water bal- Hyponatremia is a life-threatening complication
ance that may lead to water of unknown cause. When a client ingests an
intoxication. Which of the unusually large volume of water, the kidneys'
following may occur as a re- capacity to excrete water is overwhelmed, and
sult of water intoxication? serum sodium levels rapidly fall below the nor-
mal range of 135 to 145 mEq/L, to a neurologi-
1. Oliguria cal signs such as muscle twitching and irritabil-
2. Hypernatremia ity, and the client is at risk for seizures, coma or
3. Hyponatremia possible death. Polyuria and increased diurnal
4. Weight loss weight gain may occur.
5. When preparing a class 4. Improvement in symptoms can occur as a
presentation about schizo- client with a history of schizophrenia reaches
phrenia, which of the fol- older adulthood
lowing would the nurse
most likely include? People with schizophrenia do reach older adult-
hood and others develop schizophrenia late in
1. Delusions are more com- life. For older clients who have had schizophre-
monly noted in younger nia since young adulthood, this mat be a times
children with schizophre- in which they experience some improvement in
nia symptoms or decrease in relapse fluctuations.
2. Schizophrenia is more The diagnosis of schizophrenia in children be-
commonly diagnosed in fore adolescence is rare. If it does occur, hallu-
children than in adoles- cinations tend to be more visual and delusions
cents are less developed
2/7
