MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 2
SCHIZOPHRENIA QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
What interventions are needed for a disruptive patient? - ANSWER-Set limits,
decrease stimuli, observe for increasing behavior (pacing, volume/tone of voice, facial
expression), minimize weapons, protect other patients, safety and restraints when
necessary
What interventions are needed for a patient who is withdrawn? - ANSWER-Arrange fro
nonthreatening activities, arrange seating so they need to sit with someone, provide
1:1 non threatening socialization with nurse, reinforce grooming, re-motivate and
socialize, psychosocial rehabilitation
What interventions are needed for suspicious patients? - ANSWER-Be matter of fact,
don't laugh or whisper, clarify misconceptions, don't touch without warning, be
consistent, use eye contact, use "I" statements...not "you"
What interventions are needed for impaired communication? - ANSWER-Be patient
and don't pressure, don't place patients in frustrating group activities, speak simply
and in a slightly louder voice and call the person by name, keep it simple and don't
use abstract terms or analogies
What interventions are needed for patients with disordered perceptions? - ANSWER-
Ask directly about hallucinations, watch for cues of hallucinations (head tilt, eye
movement, lips moving, head nodding). Distract and re-direct, monitor TV/Radio
usage and command hallucinations
What interventions are needed for disorganized (mentally & cognitive) patients? -
ANSWER-Provide less stimulating environment, calm environment, provide
safe/simple activities, information boards with schedules, prevent embarrassment,
assist with grooming and hygiene
What interventions are needed for patients with altered levels of activity? - ANSWER--
Hyperactivity: allow patients to stand during group, provide safe environment, activities
that don't require fine motor skills, walk w/patient and give active tasks such as folding
laundry etc
-immobility: Minimize circulatory problem/loss of muscle tone, provide adequate diet,
exercise and rest, maintain bowel and bladder function, prevent victimization
What family teaching is important for schizophrenia patients? - ANSWER--must
continue to assess for s/s of EPS, NMS and anticholinergic side effects
-teach that meds lower seizure threshold, can cause wt. gain and metabolic syndrome
-teach about med that treats only negative symptoms vs both neg. and positive
-importance of taking medications and getting injections
-S/S of heat stroke and to avoid hot tubs, saunas, hot humid days, prolonged sun
exposure
, -early s/s of relapse
-if on Clozapine-weekly WBC check
What is a delusion of reference? - ANSWER-one believes that an event or object has
a particular and unusual significance (only to them not to others) that is usually
negative or persecutory in nature
What is thought broadcasting? - ANSWER-Believes that ones thoughts are being
heard by others through a media source
What is thought insertion? - ANSWER-Belief that someone is "inserting" thoughts into
the mind
what is depersonalization? - ANSWER-a non-specific feeling that one has lost their
identity and that they are unreal or different somehow
what is derealization? - ANSWER-False perception by a person that the environment
has changed
What is derailment? - ANSWER-A thought process that is out of order or ideas that
are unrelated
What is dissociation? - ANSWER-protective mechanism that uses though blocking
such as one's memory, identity or perception of the environment until they are able to
deal with it
what is word salad? - ANSWER-meaningless jumble or mixture of words or phrases
that make no sense to the listener and/or speaker
What are neolgisms? - ANSWER-Words the patient makes up that have a special
meaning to them, but not to others
What is catatonia, and s/s? - ANSWER-Extreme and abnormal motor behavior
S/S: withdrawn phase- person doesn't move or eat, bizarre posturing. Also following a
routine obsessively such as continually arranging and rearranging objects. During
extreme motor activity the patient may run about ceaselessly and without purpose until
exhaustion and collapse.
What interventions are used for a patient who is having delusions? - ANSWER--avoid
reinforcing delusion and clarify intent (ex: I am the nurse)
What is the prodromal phase in schizophrenia? - ANSWER-Early part of the disease
S/S are: social withdrawal, deterioration in function and depressive mood. This is
followed by magical thinking, perceptual disturbances and peculiar behavior. Can be
one month or one year before first psychotic episode.
What is phase 1 or the acute phase in schizophrenia and what interventions are
needed? - ANSWER-Period of florid positive symptoms (more flagrant):
Hallucinations, delusions; as well as negative symptoms such as withdrawal, apathy
and lack of motivation and cognitive symptoms
SCHIZOPHRENIA QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
What interventions are needed for a disruptive patient? - ANSWER-Set limits,
decrease stimuli, observe for increasing behavior (pacing, volume/tone of voice, facial
expression), minimize weapons, protect other patients, safety and restraints when
necessary
What interventions are needed for a patient who is withdrawn? - ANSWER-Arrange fro
nonthreatening activities, arrange seating so they need to sit with someone, provide
1:1 non threatening socialization with nurse, reinforce grooming, re-motivate and
socialize, psychosocial rehabilitation
What interventions are needed for suspicious patients? - ANSWER-Be matter of fact,
don't laugh or whisper, clarify misconceptions, don't touch without warning, be
consistent, use eye contact, use "I" statements...not "you"
What interventions are needed for impaired communication? - ANSWER-Be patient
and don't pressure, don't place patients in frustrating group activities, speak simply
and in a slightly louder voice and call the person by name, keep it simple and don't
use abstract terms or analogies
What interventions are needed for patients with disordered perceptions? - ANSWER-
Ask directly about hallucinations, watch for cues of hallucinations (head tilt, eye
movement, lips moving, head nodding). Distract and re-direct, monitor TV/Radio
usage and command hallucinations
What interventions are needed for disorganized (mentally & cognitive) patients? -
ANSWER-Provide less stimulating environment, calm environment, provide
safe/simple activities, information boards with schedules, prevent embarrassment,
assist with grooming and hygiene
What interventions are needed for patients with altered levels of activity? - ANSWER--
Hyperactivity: allow patients to stand during group, provide safe environment, activities
that don't require fine motor skills, walk w/patient and give active tasks such as folding
laundry etc
-immobility: Minimize circulatory problem/loss of muscle tone, provide adequate diet,
exercise and rest, maintain bowel and bladder function, prevent victimization
What family teaching is important for schizophrenia patients? - ANSWER--must
continue to assess for s/s of EPS, NMS and anticholinergic side effects
-teach that meds lower seizure threshold, can cause wt. gain and metabolic syndrome
-teach about med that treats only negative symptoms vs both neg. and positive
-importance of taking medications and getting injections
-S/S of heat stroke and to avoid hot tubs, saunas, hot humid days, prolonged sun
exposure
, -early s/s of relapse
-if on Clozapine-weekly WBC check
What is a delusion of reference? - ANSWER-one believes that an event or object has
a particular and unusual significance (only to them not to others) that is usually
negative or persecutory in nature
What is thought broadcasting? - ANSWER-Believes that ones thoughts are being
heard by others through a media source
What is thought insertion? - ANSWER-Belief that someone is "inserting" thoughts into
the mind
what is depersonalization? - ANSWER-a non-specific feeling that one has lost their
identity and that they are unreal or different somehow
what is derealization? - ANSWER-False perception by a person that the environment
has changed
What is derailment? - ANSWER-A thought process that is out of order or ideas that
are unrelated
What is dissociation? - ANSWER-protective mechanism that uses though blocking
such as one's memory, identity or perception of the environment until they are able to
deal with it
what is word salad? - ANSWER-meaningless jumble or mixture of words or phrases
that make no sense to the listener and/or speaker
What are neolgisms? - ANSWER-Words the patient makes up that have a special
meaning to them, but not to others
What is catatonia, and s/s? - ANSWER-Extreme and abnormal motor behavior
S/S: withdrawn phase- person doesn't move or eat, bizarre posturing. Also following a
routine obsessively such as continually arranging and rearranging objects. During
extreme motor activity the patient may run about ceaselessly and without purpose until
exhaustion and collapse.
What interventions are used for a patient who is having delusions? - ANSWER--avoid
reinforcing delusion and clarify intent (ex: I am the nurse)
What is the prodromal phase in schizophrenia? - ANSWER-Early part of the disease
S/S are: social withdrawal, deterioration in function and depressive mood. This is
followed by magical thinking, perceptual disturbances and peculiar behavior. Can be
one month or one year before first psychotic episode.
What is phase 1 or the acute phase in schizophrenia and what interventions are
needed? - ANSWER-Period of florid positive symptoms (more flagrant):
Hallucinations, delusions; as well as negative symptoms such as withdrawal, apathy
and lack of motivation and cognitive symptoms
