Psychotic Disorders no. 4033

Psychotic Disorders no. 4033

QUESTION: A client with paranoid schizophrenia has been experiencing auditory hallucinations for many years. One approach that has proven to be effective for hallucinating clients is to:

✘O a.) take an as-needed dose of psychotropic medication whenever they hear voices.
✓O b.) practice saying "Go away" or "Stop" when they hear voices.
✘O c.) sing loudly to drown out the voices and provide a distraction.
✘O d.) go to their room until the voices go away.

RATIONALE

RATIONALE: Researchers have found that some clients can learn to control bothersome hallucinations by telling the voices to go away or stop. Taking an as-needed dose of psychotropic medication whenever the voices arise may lead to overmedication and put the client at risk for adverse effects. Because the voices aren't likely to go away permanently, the client must learn to deal with the hallucinations without relying on drugs. Although distraction is helpful, singing loudly may upset other clients and would be socially unacceptable after the client is discharged. Hallucinations are most bothersome in a quiet environment when the client is alone, so sending the client to his room would increase, rather than decrease, the hallucinations.
NURSING PROCESS STEP: Implementation
CLIENT NEEDS CATEGORY: Psychosocial integrity
CLIENT NEEDS SUBCATEGORY: None
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Knowledge