Lecture 10: Psychosis Flashcards
(60 cards)
What does the term “psychosis” refer to?
Psychosis refers to some loss of contact with reality, with altered perception, thoughts, mood, and behavior.
What is the lifetime prevalence of psychosis?
The lifetime prevalence of psychosis is about 3%.
What is the treatment gap for schizophrenia internationally?
The treatment gap for schizophrenia is about 30%.
At what age does schizophrenia typically onset for men and women?
Schizophrenia typically onsets in adolescence for men and middle age for women.
What are common co-morbid conditions associated with schizophrenia?
Co-morbid conditions include substance abuse, depression, anxiety, suicide, and chronic medical disorders like HIV and diabetes.
What are the DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing schizophrenia?
The criteria include 2 or more symptoms: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior, and negative symptoms, with a duration of at least 6 months.
How long must symptoms persist for a schizophrenia diagnosis?
Symptoms must persist for at least 6 months, with active symptoms lasting for 1 month.
What exclusions must be ruled out in diagnosing schizophrenia?
Schizoaffective disorder, depressive/bipolar disorders with psychotic features, or substance abuse.
What is the difference between schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder?
Schizoaffective disorder shows higher scores for mania and depression.
What is schizoaffective disorder?
It involves features of schizophrenia combined with a mood disorder episode (either depression or mania).
How long do symptoms last for schizophreniform disorder?
Symptoms last at least 1 month but less than 6 months, making it schizophrenia-like but not a full diagnosis.
What is the key feature of delusional disorder?
It involves delusional beliefs (false beliefs) with otherwise normal behavior, such as erotomania (believing someone of higher status loves them).
How long do symptoms last in brief psychotic disorder?
Symptoms last more than 1 day but less than 1 month.
What defines schizotypal personality disorder?
It involves stable, mild psychotic traits that are consistent across time and situations, but the individual remains in contact with reality.
What are the early symptoms of prodromal psychosis?
Symptoms include negative symptoms (e.g., reduced expressiveness) or mild positive symptoms (e.g., delusions, hallucinations) in attenuated form.
What is the hallmark symptom of hallucinations in psychosis?
Hallucinations are sensory experiences that feel real but occur without any external perceptual stimulus, and auditory hallucinations are the most common.
What might people think when they experience hallucinations or psychosis?
People might think it’s no big deal, be mildly amused, wonder if they are going crazy, or feel the need to investigate further.
What are the typical characteristics of voices in auditory hallucinations?
Voices can originate from the ears, mind, surface of the body, or external space. They vary in frequency (from rare to constant), loudness (whispers to shouts), and may have different accents. The voices may discuss behavior or express emotions (negative or positive).
How do patients emotionally react to their hallucinations?
Patients often emotionally engage with their hallucinations and might incorporate them into delusions.
What is a delusion?
A delusion is a false, fixed belief that cannot be changed even when presented with conflicting evidence. It often involves disturbances in thought, external control of thoughts, or neutral events having personal relevance.
How do delusions compare to normal beliefs in recent views?
Delusions are now seen as more like strong normal beliefs, maintained with little evidence, and they persist despite conflicting evidence. They involve confirmation bias and ignoring contradictions.
What is an example of how delusions are similar to normal beliefs?
An example is the Flat Earth theory—if enough people believe the same thing, it is treated as a normal belief.
What is the Paranoia Hierarchy?
The Paranoia Hierarchy classifies perceived threats into levels: severe, moderate, and mild threats, as well as ideas of reference and social evaluative concerns.
What does severe paranoia involve in the hierarchy?
Severe paranoia includes concerns about significant harm, such as conspiracy theories or beliefs that people are out to cause physical, psychological, or social harm.
