Log inStart free

Schizophrenia MCQs with Answers

Mental Health › Schizophrenia & Psychotic Disorders · 229 questions on this topic in NurseRank, 7 free to practise now.

Practise Schizophrenia for NORCET, RRB, ESIC, CHO and state nursing officer exams. Read the 5 sample questions below, tap Show answer and explanation to check yourself, then open the full topic practice.

Start free practice: SchizophreniaSee Premium

Sample Schizophrenia questions

Q1. The patient with an Axis I diagnosis of schizophrenia, undifferentiated type, is acutely psychotic and exhibits religious delusions and hallucinations, loose associations, and concrete thinking. When the nurse offers the patient her medication, the patient states, "I don't need that. God will heal me." The nurse should respond to the patient by saying:

  1. "God wants you to take your medicine."
  2. "God is important in your life, but the medicine will help you too."
  3. "God helps those who help themselves."
  4. "This medicine will help clear your thoughts and decrease anxiety."
Show answer and explanation

Answer: B. "God is important in your life, but the medicine will help you too."

Stating that God is important in the patient's life recognizes the patient's cognitive and perceptual disturbances and level of anxiety and acknowledges the patient's message in a respectful and neutral manner, while adding that the medicine also will help, clearly and directly states the need for medication. Stating, "God helps those who help themselves" challenges the patient. Stating, "God wants you to take your medicine" is deceitful. Stating, "Medicine will help clear your thinking and decrease anxiety" would be helpful to the patient later when she is less acutely psychotic and anxious.

Q2. A patient with a history of schizophrenia attends the mental health clinic for a regularly scheduled group therapy session. The patient arrives agitated and exhibits behaviors that indicates the hearing of voices. When a nurse begins to walk toward the patient, the patient pulls out a large knife. Which is the nurse's best approach?

  1. Firm
  2. Empathetic
  3. Confrontational
  4. Passive
Show answer and explanation

Answer: A. Firm

A firm approach prevents anxiety transference and provides structure and control for a patient who is out of control. 2 A passive approach for a patient who may be out of control does not provide structure, which may increase the patient's anxiety. 3 Although the nurse should always base a therapeutic response on empathy, an obviously empathetic response may indicate to the patient that the behavior is acceptable. 4 A confrontational approach in this situation may escalate the patient's agitation and precipitate further acting out.

Q3. Which category of ICD is associated with Schizophrenia?

  1. F 30-39
  2. F 20-29
  3. F 00-09
  4. F 40-49
Show answer and explanation

Answer: B. F 20-29

In ICD-10, F20-F29 covers schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders; F30-39 mood disorders, F40-49 neurotic and stress-related disorders, F00-09 organic mental disorders.

Q4. Which defence mechanism is mainly used in paranoid schizophrenia?

  1. Repression
  2. Projection
  3. Regression
  4. Denial
Show answer and explanation

Answer: B. Projection

Paranoid schizophrenia – delusions of persecution, hallucinations, ideas of reference and suspiciousness; defence mechanism projection; good prognosis.

Q5. The nurse plans care for a patient with schizophrenia who lacks the motivation to shower and dress. What outcome should the nurse expect the patient to achieve by the end of 4 days?

  1. Explain reasons for showering and dressing
  2. Perform showering and dressing
  3. Verbalize the need to shower and dress
  4. Recognize the need to shower and dress
Show answer and explanation

Answer: B. Perform showering and dressing

By the end of 4 days, the patient should be able to perform showering and dressing for themself. The patient with schizophrenia commonly appears to be apathetic and lack initiative. Therefore, demonstrating the ability to complete the tasks indicates improvement. Although the patient may be able to recognize, verbalize, or explain the need to shower and dress, they may be unable to do so because of the ambivalence associated with schizophrenia that impedes the patient's ability to initiate and complete self-care. Therefore, evidence of improvement would be lacking.

Practise all Schizophrenia questions freeSee Premium

Frequently asked questions

Are these Schizophrenia questions free?

Yes. The sample questions on this page are free, and you can practise this topic free after entering your name and mobile number. There is no OTP and no password.

Which exams do these Schizophrenia MCQs help with?

They are useful for AIIMS NORCET, RRB, ESIC, CHO, DSSSB and state staff nurse or nursing officer exams, and for NCLEX-style practice.

Get the app