What mental health condition is exemplified by a patient experiencing audio and visual hallucinations while showing flat affect?

Study for the Swift River Mental Health Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each question includes hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

The presence of both auditory and visual hallucinations alongside flat affect is characteristic of a specific mental health condition that primarily affects an individual's thought processes and perceptions of reality. Paranoid schizophrenia is a subtype of schizophrenia where individuals commonly experience delusions and hallucinations, particularly of a paranoid nature. The flat affect, which is a reduced emotional expression, is also common in schizophrenia, as individuals may struggle to convey appropriate emotions due to their condition.

In contrast, major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder can involve mood disturbances but do not typically include the persistent hallucinations observed in schizophrenia. Major depressive disorder primarily features symptoms such as significant sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities, but hallucinations are not a hallmark feature. Bipolar disorder involves episodes of mania and depression, where hallucinations may occur only during severe episodes, but they do not define the disorder itself.

Tourette's syndrome, on the other hand, is a neurological disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics, and does not involve hallucinations or affective flattening as key symptoms. Thus, the symptoms presented clearly align with paranoid schizophrenia, making it the correct answer.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy