Module 43: Schizophrenia and Other Disorders Flashcards
Schizophrenia
A disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and/or diminished, inappropriate emotional expression.
- Mind is split from reality
Psychotic Disorders
A group of disorders marked by irrational ideas, distorted perceptions, and a loss of contact with reality.
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
- Positive symptoms
- – inappropriate behaviors are present
- —- disturbed perceptions, talk in disorganized and deluded ways, inappropriate laughter, tears, or rage
- Negative symptoms
- – appropriate behaviors are absent
- —- absence of emotion in their voices, expressionless faces, or unmoving - mute and rigid - bodies
Hallucinations
- False perceptions
- – Most often are voices
- —- Sometimes make insulting remarks or give orders
Delusion
A false belief, often of persecution or grandeur, that may accompany psychotic disorders.
Catatonia
Ranges from a physical stupor - motionless for hours - to senseless compulsive actions —> continually rocking
Chronic Schizophrenia
( also called process schizophrenia ) a form of schizophrenia in which symptoms usually appear by late adolescence or early adulthood. As people age, psychotic episodes last longer and recovery periods shorten.
- Recovery is doubtful
Acute Schizophrenia
( also called reactive schizophrenia ) a form of schizophrenia that can begin at any age, frequently occurs in response to a traumatic event, and from which recovery is much more likely.
Brain Abnormalities
Dopamine
Dopamine overactivity
- excess number of dopamine receptors
- – hyper - responsive dopamine system —> creates positive symptoms ( hallucinations and paranoia )
- —- drugs that block these receptors lessen symptoms
Brain Abnormalities
Abnormal Brain Activity and Anatomy
- Low activity in frontal lobes
- – Helps us reason, plan, solve problems
- Hallucinations
- – Thalamus active
- — Filters incoming sensory signals and transmits them to brain’s cortex
- Paranoia
- – Increased activity in amygdala
- Enlarged fluid - filled ventricles
- – Shrinking and thinning of cerebral tissue
Dissociative Disorders
Controversial, rare disorders in which conscious awareness becomes separated ( dissociated ) from previous memories, thoughts, and feelings.
- Result may be a fugue state
- – Sudden loss of memory or change in identity
Dissociative Identity Disorder ( DID )
A rare dissociative disorder in which a person exhibits two or more distinct and alternating identities.
- Original identity denies any awareness of the others
Personality Disorders
Inflexible and enduring behavior patterns that impair social functioning.
The Three Clusters
- Anxiety
- – avoidant personality disorder
- Eccentric or odd behaviors
- – schizotypal personality disorder
- Dramatic or impulsive behaviors
- – borderline personality disorder
Antisocial Personality Disorder
A personality disorder in which a person ( usually a man ) exhibits a lack of conscience for wrongdoing, even toward friends and family members; may be aggressive and ruthless or a clever con artist.
