Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Exam 2025 – Complete Practice Resource

The correct choice is grounded in the diagnostic criteria established by the DSM-5 for schizophrenia. Specifically, the DSM-5 states that a diagnosis of schizophrenia requires the presence of two or more of the specified symptoms during a significant portion of a one-month period. These symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior, and negative symptoms. The emphasis on the duration and number of symptoms is crucial for distinguishing schizophrenia from other mental disorders.

The other choices do not fulfill the criteria for diagnosing schizophrenia as laid out in the DSM-5. The evidence of a depressive episode may suggest a mood disorder rather than schizophrenia, and while a depressive episode can occur concurrently with schizophrenia, it is not exclusive to the diagnosis. Manifestation of compulsive behaviors relates more to anxiety disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, than to schizophrenia. Similarly, a history of multiple hospitalizations is not a criterion for diagnosis; rather, it is an indication of the severity or impact of the illness. Therefore, focusing on the presence of specific symptoms and their duration accurately reflects the DSM-5 standards for diagnosing schizophrenia.