ATI Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Psychosis 2026/2027 | ATI Mental
Health Nursing Study Guide & Practice Questions | ATI Schizophrenia & Psychosis
Exam Review, RN Mental Health Nursing, Positive & Negative Symptoms,
Hallucinations, Delusions, Disorganized Thinking, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective
Disorder, Schizophreniform Disorder, Brief Psychotic Disorder, Psychosis,
Catatonia, Antipsychotic Medications, Therapeutic Communication, Client Safety,
Suicide Risk, Nursing Interventions, Clinical Judgment, Prioritization, Patient
Education, NGN-Style Case Studies & Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A nurse is providing education to a client newly
diagnosed with schizophrenia who asks, "What exactly is a
hallucination?" Which of the following responses by the nurse is
most accurate?
A. "A hallucination is a fixed false belief that persists despite evidence to
the contrary."
B. "A hallucination is a sensory perception that occurs without an external
stimulus."
C. "A hallucination is a misinterpretation of a real external sensory
experience."
D. "A hallucination is a deficit in emotional expression or motivation."
CORRECT ANSWER: B. "A hallucination is a sensory perception
that occurs without an external stimulus."
Rationale: Hallucinations are defined as sensory experiences that occur in
the absence of corresponding external stimuli. They can involve any of the
five senses, though auditory hallucinations are the most common in
schizophrenia. Option A describes a delusion. Option C describes an
illusion. Option D describes a negative symptom.
Question 2: A client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices that
tell him he is worthless. Which type of hallucination should the
nurse document?
A. Visual
B. Auditory
C. Tactile
D. Gustatory
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Auditory
Rationale: Auditory hallucinations involve hearing voices or sounds that are
not present externally. They are the most common type of hallucination in
schizophrenia and often take the form of derogatory or commanding
,voices. Visual, tactile, and gustatory hallucinations involve sight, touch, and
taste, respectively.
Question 3: A nurse is assessing a client who believes that the
government has implanted a tracking device in his brain. This
belief is an example of which type of delusion?
A. Grandiose
B. Erotomanic
C. Persecutory
D. Nihilistic
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Persecutory
Rationale: Persecutory delusions involve the fixed false belief that one is
being targeted, harmed, or conspired against by others. The belief that a
tracking device has been implanted by the government is a classic example.
Grandiose delusions involve inflated self-importance. Erotomanic delusions
involve the belief that another person is in love with the client. Nihilistic
delusions involve the conviction that oneself or the world does not exist.
Question 4: A nurse is differentiating positive and negative
symptoms of schizophrenia. Which of the following is classified as
a negative symptom?
A. Delusions
B. Hallucinations
C. Flat affect
D. Disorganized speech
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Flat affect
Rationale: Negative symptoms involve the absence or reduction of normal
functions, such as emotional expression, motivation, and social
engagement. Flat affect (diminished emotional expression) is a classic
negative symptom. Delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech are
positive symptoms, which involve the presence of abnormal experiences or
behaviors.
Question 5: A client with schizophrenia displays poverty of speech,
answering questions with only one or two words. The nurse should
document this as which negative symptom?
,A. Avolition
B. Alogia
C. Anhedonia
D. Asociality
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Alogia
Rationale: Alogia, also known as poverty of speech, is a negative symptom
characterized by reduced verbal output and brief, empty responses.
Avolition refers to lack of motivation. Anhedonia refers to inability to
experience pleasure. Asociality refers to reduced social drive and
interaction.
Question 6: A nurse is assessing a client with schizophrenia who
demonstrates waxy flexibility. This finding is most consistent with
which condition?
A. Catatonia
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Akathisia
D. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Catatonia
Rationale: Catatonia is a psychomotor disturbance characterized by
abnormalities in movement and behavior, including waxy flexibility (the
client maintains a posture imposed by the examiner), mutism, stupor, and
negativism. Tardive dyskinesia involves involuntary repetitive movements.
Akathisia involves subjective restlessness. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
involves fever, rigidity, and autonomic instability.
Question 7: A nurse is caring for a client experiencing acute
psychosis. Which of the following is the priority nursing action?
A. Encouraging the client to attend group therapy
B. Ensuring the safety of the client and others
C. Discussing the client's feelings about the illness
D. Teaching the client about medication side effects
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Ensuring the safety of the client and others
Rationale: During acute psychosis, clients may be unpredictable, agitated,
or respond to internal stimuli in ways that endanger themselves or others.
Safety is always the first priority in nursing care. Group therapy, emotional
, processing, and medication education are appropriate interventions but are
secondary to immediate safety.
Question 8: A client with schizophrenia reports that the television
is sending him secret messages through the characters' eye
movements. This is an example of which type of delusion?
A. Somatic
B. Erotomanic
C. Referential
D. Grandiose
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Referential
Rationale: Delusions of reference involve the false belief that neutral
external events, objects, or other people's actions are directly related to or
communicating with the client. The belief that television characters are
sending personal messages is a classic example. Somatic delusions involve
bodily functions. Erotomanic delusions involve love. Grandiose delusions
involve inflated self-importance.
Question 9: A nurse is assessing a client with schizophrenia who
states, "My thoughts are being removed from my head by aliens."
This symptom is best documented as which type of delusion?
A. Thought insertion
B. Thought withdrawal
C. Thought broadcasting
D. Thought blocking
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Thought withdrawal
Rationale: Thought withdrawal is the delusional belief that one's thoughts
are being removed by an external force. Thought insertion is the belief that
alien thoughts are being placed into one's mind. Thought broadcasting is
the belief that one's thoughts are being transmitted to others. Thought
blocking is the sudden interruption of thought flow.
Question 10: A nurse is assessing a client who exhibits
inappropriate affect, laughing while describing the death of a
family member. This finding is best classified as which type of
symptom?
Health Nursing Study Guide & Practice Questions | ATI Schizophrenia & Psychosis
Exam Review, RN Mental Health Nursing, Positive & Negative Symptoms,
Hallucinations, Delusions, Disorganized Thinking, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective
Disorder, Schizophreniform Disorder, Brief Psychotic Disorder, Psychosis,
Catatonia, Antipsychotic Medications, Therapeutic Communication, Client Safety,
Suicide Risk, Nursing Interventions, Clinical Judgment, Prioritization, Patient
Education, NGN-Style Case Studies & Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A nurse is providing education to a client newly
diagnosed with schizophrenia who asks, "What exactly is a
hallucination?" Which of the following responses by the nurse is
most accurate?
A. "A hallucination is a fixed false belief that persists despite evidence to
the contrary."
B. "A hallucination is a sensory perception that occurs without an external
stimulus."
C. "A hallucination is a misinterpretation of a real external sensory
experience."
D. "A hallucination is a deficit in emotional expression or motivation."
CORRECT ANSWER: B. "A hallucination is a sensory perception
that occurs without an external stimulus."
Rationale: Hallucinations are defined as sensory experiences that occur in
the absence of corresponding external stimuli. They can involve any of the
five senses, though auditory hallucinations are the most common in
schizophrenia. Option A describes a delusion. Option C describes an
illusion. Option D describes a negative symptom.
Question 2: A client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices that
tell him he is worthless. Which type of hallucination should the
nurse document?
A. Visual
B. Auditory
C. Tactile
D. Gustatory
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Auditory
Rationale: Auditory hallucinations involve hearing voices or sounds that are
not present externally. They are the most common type of hallucination in
schizophrenia and often take the form of derogatory or commanding
,voices. Visual, tactile, and gustatory hallucinations involve sight, touch, and
taste, respectively.
Question 3: A nurse is assessing a client who believes that the
government has implanted a tracking device in his brain. This
belief is an example of which type of delusion?
A. Grandiose
B. Erotomanic
C. Persecutory
D. Nihilistic
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Persecutory
Rationale: Persecutory delusions involve the fixed false belief that one is
being targeted, harmed, or conspired against by others. The belief that a
tracking device has been implanted by the government is a classic example.
Grandiose delusions involve inflated self-importance. Erotomanic delusions
involve the belief that another person is in love with the client. Nihilistic
delusions involve the conviction that oneself or the world does not exist.
Question 4: A nurse is differentiating positive and negative
symptoms of schizophrenia. Which of the following is classified as
a negative symptom?
A. Delusions
B. Hallucinations
C. Flat affect
D. Disorganized speech
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Flat affect
Rationale: Negative symptoms involve the absence or reduction of normal
functions, such as emotional expression, motivation, and social
engagement. Flat affect (diminished emotional expression) is a classic
negative symptom. Delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech are
positive symptoms, which involve the presence of abnormal experiences or
behaviors.
Question 5: A client with schizophrenia displays poverty of speech,
answering questions with only one or two words. The nurse should
document this as which negative symptom?
,A. Avolition
B. Alogia
C. Anhedonia
D. Asociality
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Alogia
Rationale: Alogia, also known as poverty of speech, is a negative symptom
characterized by reduced verbal output and brief, empty responses.
Avolition refers to lack of motivation. Anhedonia refers to inability to
experience pleasure. Asociality refers to reduced social drive and
interaction.
Question 6: A nurse is assessing a client with schizophrenia who
demonstrates waxy flexibility. This finding is most consistent with
which condition?
A. Catatonia
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Akathisia
D. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Catatonia
Rationale: Catatonia is a psychomotor disturbance characterized by
abnormalities in movement and behavior, including waxy flexibility (the
client maintains a posture imposed by the examiner), mutism, stupor, and
negativism. Tardive dyskinesia involves involuntary repetitive movements.
Akathisia involves subjective restlessness. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
involves fever, rigidity, and autonomic instability.
Question 7: A nurse is caring for a client experiencing acute
psychosis. Which of the following is the priority nursing action?
A. Encouraging the client to attend group therapy
B. Ensuring the safety of the client and others
C. Discussing the client's feelings about the illness
D. Teaching the client about medication side effects
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Ensuring the safety of the client and others
Rationale: During acute psychosis, clients may be unpredictable, agitated,
or respond to internal stimuli in ways that endanger themselves or others.
Safety is always the first priority in nursing care. Group therapy, emotional
, processing, and medication education are appropriate interventions but are
secondary to immediate safety.
Question 8: A client with schizophrenia reports that the television
is sending him secret messages through the characters' eye
movements. This is an example of which type of delusion?
A. Somatic
B. Erotomanic
C. Referential
D. Grandiose
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Referential
Rationale: Delusions of reference involve the false belief that neutral
external events, objects, or other people's actions are directly related to or
communicating with the client. The belief that television characters are
sending personal messages is a classic example. Somatic delusions involve
bodily functions. Erotomanic delusions involve love. Grandiose delusions
involve inflated self-importance.
Question 9: A nurse is assessing a client with schizophrenia who
states, "My thoughts are being removed from my head by aliens."
This symptom is best documented as which type of delusion?
A. Thought insertion
B. Thought withdrawal
C. Thought broadcasting
D. Thought blocking
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Thought withdrawal
Rationale: Thought withdrawal is the delusional belief that one's thoughts
are being removed by an external force. Thought insertion is the belief that
alien thoughts are being placed into one's mind. Thought broadcasting is
the belief that one's thoughts are being transmitted to others. Thought
blocking is the sudden interruption of thought flow.
Question 10: A nurse is assessing a client who exhibits
inappropriate affect, laughing while describing the death of a
family member. This finding is best classified as which type of
symptom?
