Question

When the psychologist asks Darcey about her mother's recent death, she giggles and begins making the sign of the "cross" numerous times in the air. Darcey's speech also resembled a jumbled "word salad" as well as being frequently peppered with screams and obscenities. Her diagnosis is probably __________ schizophrenia. a) Paranoid schizophrenia

b) Disorganized schizophrenia
c) Catatonic schizophrenia
d) Undifferentiated schizophrenia

Answer 1

Darcey's behavior suggests a diagnosis of disorganized schizophrenia, a subtype marked by disorganized speech and behavior, and inappropriate affect.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given Darcey's symptoms of giggling inappropriately, making repetitive gestures such as the sign of the 'cross', speaking in a disorganized manner resembling 'word salad', and interspersing her speech with screams and obscenities, her diagnosis is probably disorganized schizophrenia. Disorganized schizophrenia, also known as hebephrenic schizophrenia, is one of the subtypes of schizophrenia characterized by disorganized speech and behavior, as well as inappropriate or flat affect. Effective treatment might involve antipsychotic medications that are generally required to manage the symptoms of schizophrenia.