Question

A nurse is conducting a group therapy meeting and is sharing a humorous story. When the group laughs at the story, a client who has schizophrenia jumps up and runs out while yelling, "You all are making fun of me." Which of the following behaviors is this client displaying?:

1. grandeur
2. flight of ideas
3. erotomania
4. ideas of reference

Answer 1

The client with schizophrenia showing distress and falsely believing that group laughter was directed at them is displaying ideas of reference.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client who has schizophrenia and reacted by running out and yelling, "You all are making fun of me," during a group therapy session is displaying ideas of reference. This refers to a symptom where the individual incorrectly believes that insignificant remarks, events, or objects in one's environment have a personal significance. It's a typical distortion in thinking associated with schizophrenia.

In this scenario, the laughter triggered by the humorous story shared by the nurse was misinterpreted by the client as being directed at them, despite it not having a direct connection to them. This can be distressing and contribute to their withdrawal or agitation during social interactions. Unlike grandiose delusions, which involve exaggerated beliefs of self-worth, the client isn't displaying signs of grandeur. Similarly, flight of ideas typically involves a rapid shift in thoughts and speech, and erotomania is an obsession with someone else being in love with the individual; neither of which are demonstrated in this situation.

Understanding these symptoms is critical for healthcare providers to offer appropriate support and intervention, particularly in a therapeutic group setting.