Question

A 22-year-old man is brought to the E.R. after exhibiting some bizarred paranoid behavior. He clamis that there are worms living under the skin and they are telling him to do things as weel as commenting on his social interactions. His family tarted noticing him "acting weird" and talking to himself roughly one month ago. He denies current drug and alcohol use, although, as a teenager took ephedra for weight loss. He has no preovious medical history. A mental status exam showed some abonormalities including behavorioa paranoia, disorganized speech and disturbances in hygiene. What subtype of schizophrenia most characterizes this patient?

A) Catatonic schizophrenia
B) Disorganized schizophrenia
C) Paranoid schizophrenia
D) Undifferentiated schizophrenia

Answer 1

The patient with paranoid behavior and disorganized speech most likely suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, a subtype of schizophrenia characterized by hallucinations and delusions. Antipsychotic medications are typically used to manage the symptoms of this mental illness.

Step-by-step explanation:

The 22-year-old man displaying bizarre paranoid behavior and claiming that there are worms living under his skin appears to be suffering from a subtype of schizophrenia. Based on the symptoms described, such as paranoia, disorganized speech, behavioral disturbances, and no significant history of catatonia or severe disorganization of behavior, the subtype that most characterizes this patient's condition is paranoid schizophrenia (C). This form of schizophrenia is characterized primarily by the presence of auditory hallucinations or prominent delusional thoughts about persecution or conspiracy.

Treatment for schizophrenia usually involves antipsychotic medications that block dopamine receptors, which can effectively manage symptoms like delusions and hallucinations. It is critical for individuals with schizophrenia to remain under medical supervision and continue their prescribed medication regimen to manage their condition effectively.