Question

A nurse is admitting a client who has schizophrenia to an acute care setting. When the nurse questions the client regarding their admission, the client states, "I'm red, in the head, and I'm going to bed!" The nurse should document the client's speech pattern as which of the following?

Answer 1

The client exhibiting a speech pattern characterized by rhyming words should be documented as having a rhyming speech pattern, which can be associated with cognitive and language deficits in schizophrenia.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should document the client's speech pattern as rhyming. The statement "I'm red, in the head, and I'm going to bed!" indicates a speech pattern where the client is producing words that rhyme, regardless of the semantic or logical connection between them. This can be seen in individuals with schizophrenia as it pertains to their thought processes and how they may organize language and speech.

Healthcare providers need to assess speech patterns as they can be indicative of cognitive and language deficits. In the case of schizophrenia, certain antipsychotic medications can aid in reducing symptoms such as disorganized thoughts, which may manifest as disorganized speech. These medications work by altering neurotransmitter activity, particularly that of dopamine, and can lead to the improvement of both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.