Question

Tony, a 45-year-old patient with schizophrenia, sometimes moves his lips silently or murmurs to himself when he does not realize others are watching. Sometimes when talking to others, he suddenly stops, appears distracted for a moment, and then resumes. Based on these observations, Tony most likely is experiencing

A) Auditory hallucinations
B) Delusions of reference
C) Disorganized thinking
D) Negative symptoms

Answer 1

Tony's behaviors suggest that he is experiencing negative symptoms of schizophrenia, characterized by reduced social engagement and decreased ability to focus.

Step-by-step explanation:

Tony's behaviors, such as moving his lips silently or murmuring to himself and having moments of distraction while talking to others, are characteristic of negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Negative symptoms refer to the absence or reduction of normal behaviors, and they can include social withdrawal, diminished emotional expressiveness, and decreased motivation. In Tony's case, his lip movements and periods of distraction can be seen as reduced social engagement and decreased ability to focus, which are common negative symptoms of schizophrenia.