Question

The psychiatric nurse is initiating an interview with Mr. Johnson. He is a 33-year-old male patient admitted to the Behavioral Center with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The nurse begins the interaction by saying, “What shall we talk about today?” (Learning Objective: 2)

a. Explain why this is an appropriate opening statement to initialize a clinical interview session.

b. Why should the nurse use simple, concrete, and direct messages with the patient?

Answer 1

Schizophrenia refers to the mental abnormality in which person can not interpret reality properly. It may include delusions, hallucinations, and distorted thinking and behavior that significantly affects the daily life of the person.

a) The schizophrenic persons generally find social relationship disturbing as lack social cognition. The schizophrenic persons show different levels of response to the gestures, facial or body features, and voice of the nurse. Hence, the opening sentence of the nurse checks the severity of the mental disturbance of Mr. Johnson.

b) The nurse should use simple concrete and direct messages with the patient as schizophrenic patients have distorted behavior and using simple, concrete, and direct messages prevent the patient to become anxious. Asking vague, indirect, or critical questions can make the patient anxious and can lead to a sudden change in behavior. Hence, the pateint should be handled calmly.