IGNOU PB. Bsc. Nsg. Entrance-2025
Psychiatric Nursing
Easy

A person who is aloof, isolated and does not socialize is :

Appeared in: IGNOU PB. Bsc. Nsg. Entrance-2025

Explanation

  • The term 'Withdrawn' is the most precise description for a person who is aloof, isolated, and avoids social interaction.
  • This behavior involves a retreat from the external world and is a common symptom in various mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, severe depression, and certain personality disorders like Avoidant or Schizoid PD.
  • It is characterized by a lack of social engagement, diminished emotional expression, and unresponsiveness to the surrounding environment.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: This option is incorrect because anxiety refers to an internal state of worry, nervousness, or fear. While a person with anxiety might avoid social situations, the term 'anxious' describes the feeling, not the behavior of isolation itself.
  • Option B: This is incorrect as 'obsessive' pertains to having recurrent, intrusive thoughts or a preoccupation with rules and details, as seen in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or Personality Disorder. It does not primarily describe social behavior.
  • Option D: This is incorrect because 'aggressive' behavior is characterized by hostility, confrontation, and outward action towards others. It is the direct opposite of being aloof, isolated, and non-social.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Psychiatric Terminology and Behavioral Assessment as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • Recognizing withdrawn behavior is a crucial nursing assessment skill, as it can be an early indicator of a serious underlying mental health issue, a response to trauma, or a side effect of medication.
  • Nurses must build trust with withdrawn patients using a calm, patient, and non-threatening approach to facilitate communication and provide effective care.
  • What if? - What if the patient is an adolescent who was previously very social but is now suddenly aloof and isolated? This acute change is a significant red flag that could indicate the onset of a major depressive episode, a psychotic disorder, or a response to a major stressor like bullying, requiring immediate and thorough assessment.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the key descriptive words in the question stem: 'aloof,' 'isolated,' and 'does not socialize.' These all point to a behavior of social disengagement.
  • Next, evaluate each option to see which one best defines this specific behavior.
  • Consider 'Anxious': This is an emotion (worry/fear), not the behavior itself, although it can be a cause.
  • Consider 'Obsessive': This relates to thought patterns (intrusive thoughts/fixation), not social behavior.
  • Consider 'Aggressive': This is an outward, hostile behavior, the opposite of what is described.
  • Consider 'Withdrawn': This term directly and accurately describes the behavior of pulling away from social contact and being isolated.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Psychiatric Terminology and Behavioral Assessment
  • Stem keywords: aloof, isolated, does not socialize
  • Lead-in keywords: is
  • Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

Q42BtteHZ4ToqvAWzxWoPM

Reference Book

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 7205-7207

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) pp. 1793-1795, 1795-1797

Practise the full IGNOU PB. Bsc. Nsg. Entrance-2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.

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