LMSW Practice Test

A client diagnosed as schizophrenic begins to hallucinate while in treatment. The social worker's primary strategy is to likely involve

1. continuing to provide ego support

2. engaging the hallucination to diminish anxiety

3. offering insight and trying to interpret the client's hallucinations

4. referring the patient to a psychiatrist for medication

The correct answer is: continuing to provide ego support

The most appropriate strategy for a social worker when a client diagnosed with schizophrenia begins to experience hallucinations is to continue to provide ego support. In this context, ego support refers to the social worker's role in validating the client's feelings and experiences, while also helping to maintain a sense of reality and stability during the episode of hallucination. Continuing to provide ego support is critical because it helps to create a safe environment where the client feels understood and less isolated. This support can help to reduce anxiety and provide reassurance, which is essential in managing acute episodes of hallucinations. By reinforcing a supportive relationship, the social worker can assist the client in navigating their experiences while minimizing distress. While referring a client to a psychiatrist for medication could be part of a comprehensive treatment plan, it is not the immediate, primary strategy employed during an acute episode. Engaging with the hallucination or trying to interpret it may lead to further distress for the client or misunderstandings about their experience. Thus, providing consistent ego support is the most effective starting point in this situation.