The wife of a patient diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia asks, I've been told that my husband's illness is probably related to imbalanced brain chemicals. Can you be more specific? The response based on the dopamine hypothesis is:
a. Breakdown of dopamine produces LSD, which in large amounts produces psy-chosis.
b. An increase in the brain chemical dopamine explains the presence of delusions and hallucinations.
c. Decreased amounts of the brain chemical dopamine explain the presence of de-lusions and hallucinations.
d. An increase in the brain chemical dopamine explains the presence of lack of mo-tivation and disordered affect.
Question 2
A patient has been admitted with disorganized type schizophrenia. The nurse observes blunted affect and social isolation. He occasionally curses or calls another patient a jerk without provocation.
The nurse asks the patient how he is feeling, and he responds, Everybody picks on me. They frobitz me. The patient's communication exhibits:
a. A neologism
b. Loose associations
c. Delusional thinking
d. Circumstantial speech
The patient and his family meet with the nurse to discuss progress on the patient care plan.
Nurse-patient interaction; nonverbal communication
Neurobiology of Schizophrenia
Patient's forearm supported in bed
Example of a patient statement.
Medical assistant interviewing a patient.