When a nurse is assessing a client who has schizophrenia, which of the following symptoms is most characteristic of this disorder?

• A. Having persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness
• B. Displaying excessive elation and hyperactivity
• C. Experiencing auditory hallucinations
• D. Demonstrating repetitive hand-washing rituals

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the core symptoms of schizophrenia, which primarily include positive symptoms (such as hallucinations and delusions), negative symptoms (such as flat affect and social withdrawal), and cognitive symptoms.
2. Step 2: Identify that auditory hallucinations are a type of positive symptom, where the individual hears voices or sounds that are not present, and these are highly characteristic of schizophrenia.
3. Step 3: Recognize that persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness are more typical of depressive disorders rather than schizophrenia.
4. Step 4: Note that excessive elation and hyperactivity are symptoms commonly associated with bipolar disorder, particularly during manic episodes, not schizophrenia.
5. Step 5: Understand that repetitive hand-washing rituals are characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which is distinct from schizophrenia.