A client, age 36, with paranoid schizophrenia believes the room is bugged by the Central Intelligence Agency and that his roommate is a foreign spy. The client has never had a romantic relationship, has no contact with family members, and hasn’t been employed in the last 14 years. Based on Erikson’s theories, the nurse should recognize that this client is in which stage of psychosocial development?

Autonomy versus shame and doubtGenerativity versus stagnationIntegrity versus despair Trust versus mistrust

Explanation.

This client’s paranoid ideation indicates difficulty trusting others. The stage of autonomy versus shame and doubt deals with separation, cooperation, and self-control. Generativity versus stagnation is the normal stage for this client’s chronologic age. Integrity versus despair is the stage for accepting the positive and negative aspects of one’s life, which would be difficult or impossible for this client.