A newly admitted patient diagnosed with schizophrenia is hypervigilant and constantly scans the environment. The patient states, "I saw two doctors talking in the hall. They were plotting to kill me." The nurse may correctly assess this behavior as

A) echolalia.
B) an idea of reference.
C) a delusion of infidelity.
D) an auditory hallucination.

Delusion

A false belief held with strong conviction despite superior evidence to the contrary, often symptomatic of mental conditions like schizophrenia.

Hypervigilant

An enhanced state of sensory sensitivity accompanied by an exaggerated intensity of behaviors whose purpose is to detect threats.

Echolalia

The involuntary and repetitive imitation of the words or sounds made by another person, associated with autism and other neurological conditions.