Abnormal pt. 9

Question 1

Schizophrenia

Answer 1

A disorder characterized by disorganized and delusional thinking, disturbed perception, and inappropriate emotions and behaviors

• Is not one disorder but a family of disorders
• Is NOT “split personality”
• Occurs in about 1% of the population

Question 2

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Answer 2

Symptoms of schizophrenia include:
- Delusions (false beliefs)
- Hallucinations (false perceptions)
- Inappropriate emotions
- Inappropriate behavior

Question 3

Delusions

Answer 3

False beliefs that are symptoms of schizophrenia and other serious psychological disorders
- Four major types of delusions

1.) Grandeur False beliefs that a person is more important than they really are
- Patients may believe they are a famous person E.G. Napoleon)

2.) Persecution False beliefs that people are out to get the person
- Believe they are being followed, the phone is tapped, etc.

3.) Sin or guilt False beliefs that the person is responsible for some misfortune

4.) Influence False beliefs of being controlled by outside forces

Question 4

Hallucinations

Answer 4

False perceptions that are symptoms of schizophrenia and other serious psychological disorders

Question 5

Types of hallucinations

Answer 5

• Auditory (hearing voices)
• Visual (seeing things)
• Tactile (feeling skin sensations)
• Can also have distorted smell and taste

Question 6

Inappropriate Emotions / Behaviors

Answer 6

• Flat affect - showing little or no emotional response
• Word salad - nonsense talk
• Waxy flexibility - the person’s arms and legs will remain in place after being moved there

Question 7

Biological Factors - Genetics

Answer 7

• Schizophrenia tends to run in families
• Genetics appears to produce a predisposition (increased likelihood) to develop schizophrenia

Question 8

Biological Factors - Brain Structure

Answer 8

• Brain structure of those with schizophrenia is different than the normal brain
  -Those with schizophrenia have smaller amounts of brain tissue and larger fluid filled spaces
• The thalamus is smaller in those with schizophrenia

Question 9

Biological Factors - Brain Function

Answer 9

• The brain of those with schizophrenia operates differently than the normal brain
• The frontal lobes show less activity
• Those with schizophrenia have a larger number of receptor sites for the neurotransmitter dopamine

Question 10

Brain Factors - Prenatal Viruses

Answer 10

A viral infection during the middle of the pregnancy may increase schizophrenia risk

Question 11

Diathesis-Stress Theory

Answer 11

A combination of biological/genetic and environmental factors (stress) can trigger or worsen schizophrenic symptoms