Lectures 19 and 20 Flashcards
What are the general differences between schizophrenia and psychosis?
Psychosis - defined as a loss of contact with reality
Schizophrenia - a type of psychosis with disturbed though, language and behaviour
What are examples of positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
Loose associations - derailment
Neologisms - made-up words
Preservation - repeating words again and again
Clang - rhymes
Heightened perceptions - visual, auditory, etc.
Hallucinations - most commonly auditory
Inappropriate affect - emotions not suited to situation
What are the ‘negative’ symptoms of schizophrenia?
Avolition - refers to the inability to perform activities
Alogia - refers to relative absence of speech
Anhedonia - lack of pleasure
Affective flattening - little expressed emotion
What are Psychomotor symptoms in schizophrenia?
Awkward movements and repeated gestures
Extreme forms collectively called catatonia - includes stupor, rigidity
What are disorders similar to schizophrenia that are considered short term?
Schizophreniform disorder - symptoms that meet all criteria for schizophrenia but only 1-6 months
Brief psychotic disorder - sudden onset of symptoms lasting between a day and a month
Schizoaffective disorder - presence of both schizophrenia and depressive, or manic episode
What are the links between violence and schizophrenia?
Most do not engage in violent behaviour, but comorbidity with substance abuse can increase the risk, as well as history of psychopathic tendencies
Those with schizophrenia are more likely to be victims of violence
What are the opinions on links between social standing and schizophrenia?
There are much higher rates of the illness in lower income groups
Some think the stress of poverty cause the disorder, but some think the disorder causes a downward drift from higher to lower standings
What factors lead to a better prognosis for a person with schizophrenia?
The symptoms had a sudden onset
Symptoms developed later in life
They have a family history of mood disorders that aren’t schizophrenia
What are the biological theories for developing schizophrenia?
One theory says that certain neurons using dopamine fire too often, producing symptoms of schizophrenia
What is linked between brain structure and schizophrenia?
Many people with schizophrenia have enlarged ventricles
People with schizophrenia have also been found to have smaller temporal and frontal lobes
How do viruses affect schizophrenia development?
Some biochemical and structural brain abnormalities in schizophrenia can come from exposure to viruses before birth
How does the diagnosis of schizophrenia influence the disease?
Many theorists believe that the social labeling of the disease can alter the features of schizophrenia
How is childhood onset schizophrenia treated?
There is a poor long-term prognosis
Psychosocial treatments, such as social skills training, family intervention and education supports are also important along with pharmacological treatments
What are the neurological treatments for schizophrenia? What are side effects?
Traditional antipsychotics - dopamine antagonists
Tardive dyskinesia is a permanent side effect of medications - tremors, weight gain, sense of physical restlessness
What are the psychological treatments of schizophrenia?
Family therapy is used to reduce expressed emotions
The importance of medication is stressed, along with family communication and problem solving
