Chapter 16 Schizophrenia Flashcards

Question

Long-Term Course of Schizophrenia

Answer 1

Intensity of psychosis tends to diminish over time Many clients with long-term impairment regain some degree of social and occupational functioning. - Over time, the disease becomes less disruptive to the person’s life and easier to manage, but rarely can the client overcome the effects of many years of dysfunction.

Answer 2

The client exhibits an acute, reactive psychosis for less than 6 months necessary to meet the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia. If symptoms persist over 6 months, the diagnosis is changed to schizophrenia - Social or occupational functioning may or may not be impaired

Answer 3

Characterized by marked psychomotor disturbance and either excessive motor activity or virtual immobility and motionlessness. Motor immobility may include catalepsy (waxy flexibility) or stupor Excessive motor activity is apparently purposeless and not influenced by external stimuli. Other behaviors include extreme negativism, mutism, peculiar movements, echolalia, or echopraxia. Can occur with schizophrenia, mood disorders, or other psychotic disorders

Answer 4

The client has one or more nonbizarre delusions - Focus of the delusion is believable Delusion may be persecutory, erotomanic, grandiose, jealous, or somatic in content Psychosocial functioning is not markedly impaired, and behavior is not obviously odd or bizarre

Answer 5

The client experiences the sudden onset of at least one psychotic symptom, such as delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech or behavior, which lasts from 1 day to 1 month. The episode may or may not have an identifiable stressor or may follow childbirth

Answer 6

2 people share a similar delusion The person w/ this diagnosis develops this delusion in the context of a close relationship with someone who has psychotic delusions, most commonly siblings, parent, and child or partners/spouses The more submissive or suggestible person may rapidly improve if separated from the dominant person

Answer 7

Children/Adolescents have atypical/prodromal signs for years before diagnosis Children Prodromal Signs: - Do less well in school as compared to siblings - Less socially engaged - Less positive - Unusual motor development Carries worse prognosis than adult-onset Diagnosed before age 12 Occurring in 1 out of 40,000 children

Answer 8

Gradual process lasting a few months or few years Social withdrawal Irritability Depression Antagonistic Conduct problems Academic decline **Suspicious and low level of distorted thinking

Answer 9

Early symptoms that indicate a problem may be developing

Answer 10

Schizophrenia is the most inheritable out of all mental health disorders - Largest genetic component Recent studies indicate that the genetic risk of schizophrenia is polygenic, meaning several genes contribute to the development

Answer 11

Findings have demonstrated that people with schizophrenia have relatively less brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid than those who do not have schizophrenia CT Scan: Enlarged ventricles in the brain & cortical atrophy Glucose metabolism & oxygen are diminished in the frontal cortical structures of the brain Dopamine Theory: Excess dopamine activity - Drugs that increase activity in the dopaminergic system sometimes induce a paranoid psychotic reaction similar to schizophrenia - The greater the ability of the drug to block dopamine receptors, the more effective it is in decreasing symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 12

Ideas that are considered delusional in one culture, such as beliefs in sorcery or witchcraft, may be commonly accepted by other cultures. Also, auditory or visual hallucinations, such as seeing the Virgin Mary or hearing God’s voice, may be a normal part of religious experiences in some cultures.

Answer 13

The ways in which people experience distress in the context of their lives and surroundings

Answer 14

NOTE: Prognosis worsens each acute episode!! - Severity of course r/t Tx adherence & other factors Late or sudden diagnosis onset Good pre-illness functioning Family hx of mood disorders vs. schizophrenia Paranoid schizophrenia subtype or many positive symptoms Female Minimal cognitive impairment

Answer 15

Onset: Early age at onset Pre-Illness Level of Functioning: Poor pre-illness functioning Family hx of schizophrenia Disorganized schizophrenia subtype with many negative symptoms Male Significant cognitive impairment

Answer 16

Prodromal: Onset, mild changes - Onset of symptoms begin one month to a year before first psychotic break or full-blown illness Acute: Crisis Stabilization Unit - Exacerbation of symptoms Stabilization: Outpatient - Symptoms diminishing - Movement toward previous level of functioning Maintenance or Residual: New baseline is established - Relapses may occur at any time

Chapter 16 Schizophrenia Flashcards

(43 cards)