Annie experiences disorganized thinking and communicates with people who do not exist. Which psychological disorder is she most likely exhibiting?

• A. Generalized anxiety disorder
• B. Schizophrenia
• C. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• D. Major depressive disorder

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the key symptoms described in the problem: disorganized thinking and communicating with people who do not exist.
2. Step 2: Understand that disorganized thinking refers to difficulty organizing thoughts, which can manifest as incoherent or illogical speech.
3. Step 3: Recognize that communicating with people who do not exist indicates the presence of hallucinations, specifically auditory or visual hallucinations.
4. Step 4: Recall that schizophrenia is a psychological disorder characterized by symptoms such as disorganized thinking, hallucinations, and delusions.
5. Step 5: Compare the symptoms with other disorders listed (Generalized anxiety disorder, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Major depressive disorder) and note that these do not typically include hallucinations or disorganized thinking, confirming schizophrenia as the most likely diagnosis.