Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Psychiatry > Schizophrenia and Psychosis > Flashcards

Schizophrenia and Psychosis Flashcards

(80 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What is psychosis

A

Mental disorder in which thoughts, affective response, ability to recognise reality and the ability to communicate and relate to others, are sufficiently impaired
Cannot work out what is real and not real
Usually has a functional impact and a loss of insight

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the characteristics of psychosis

A 
Hallucinations 
Delusions 
Disorder of the form of thoughts 
Lack of insight 
Functional impact
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Illicit drugs can lead to psychosis - true or false

A

True

When they come down from the drug the psychosis often disappears

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a hallucination

A

A perception which occurs in the absence of an external stimulus
Experienced as if it were real
Is not subject to conscious manipulation
Can occur in any sensory modality - hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting or feeling things that are not actually there but feel real to the person.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is thought insertion

A

When you believe your thoughts are not your own

Being put there by someone else

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is passivity of action

A

When you believe that someone else is controlling your actions/movements

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is ideas of reference

A

When a person assigns significance or meaning to an event, speech, objects etc
Feel like specific things are jumping out at you
May believe that messages are being left in newspapers, TV reports are directly communicating to them etc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a delusion

A

A fixed but falsely held belief
Wont be able to convince the person that it is not real despite being contradicted by reality or rational argument
Held outwith the usual social, cultural and educational background of the patient
May be bizarre or impossible

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is paranoia

A

The belief that external events are related to oneself
It is self-referential - about your own mind
Can be transient or very intrusive
Often think people are talking about them or ‘out to get them’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are Capgrass delusions

A

Where you believe people have been replaced by others (e.g. those aren’t nurses they are agents)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is Capgrass nihilism

A

Where you believe you have died and are just waiting for your body to stop working

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

List some common types of delusion

A

Paranoid
Persecutory
Grandiose
Religious - have met God or are second coming
Misidentification - Capgrass or Fregoli
Guilt
worry that they have committed crimes
Sin – people will believe they have sinned
Nihilistic - believe they have lost everything

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a Fregoli delusion

A

Were you think that one person changes their appearance and becomes another (e.g. one nurse leaves and another enters and you think it’s the same person)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is Othello syndrome

A

You constantly believe you are being cheated on

Can lead onto violence and even homicide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are primary delusions

A

These delusions arrive fully formed in the consciousness without need for explanation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are secondary delusions

A

Usually present to try and explain another anomalous phenomenon such as a hallucination
E.g. the voices I’m hearing are being transmitted by the CIA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is Knight’s move thinking

A

A type of thought disorder where the person will jump between topics based off previous words or topics
Random content that is hard to follow - no clear link or formal/coherent train of thought

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are the signs of a thought disorder

A 
You can identify it from speech patterns 
May have: 
Knight's moving
Clanging and punning
Going off on tangents 
Word salad 
Neologisms 
Loosening of associations
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is word salad

A

When the patient uses random words and syllables

Unable to communicate what they mean as they think these words make sense

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is thought withdrawal

A

When the patient believes that their thoughts are being extracted from their mind

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is thought broadcasting

A

When someone believes that everyone can tell/hear what they are thinking
Often linked to technology - transmitting them

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is thought blocking

A

Patients will be unable to finish a thought and stop suddenly
Feel as though they suddenly get blocked

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is meant by loss of insight

A

The patient cannot tell they are unwell and believe everything that is happening to them is real

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

List some of the differentials for psychotic symptoms

A

Unipolar depression
Bipolar - will be associated with mood changes
Schizoaffective disorder
Schizophrenia
Substance use - inlcuding withdrawal
Organic conditions - dementia, delirium, brain injury

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What type of hallucinations are common in schizophrenia
3rd person auditory
26
How does drug induced psychosis present
Psychotic symptoms have an acute onset but are often short lasting (if substance is removed)
27
Which drug can lead to an insidious onset of psychosis
Heavy cannabis use
28
Describe depressive psychosis
Physctic symptoms have mood congruent (depressive) content Delusions of worthlessness or guilt Hallucinations which are persecutory, threatening or insulting (usually 2nd person)
29
Describe mania with psychosis
Symptoms are mood congruent In mania delusions are often of grandeur, special ability, religious etc Hallucinations are usually auditory (God talking to them) People may believe that everyone is jealous of them Hallucinations are usually 2nd person and encouraging them that their ideas are great M
30
What can cause delirium
``` Infection or sepsis Organ failure Hypoglycaemia Alcohol withdrawal Drug intoxication or withdrawal ETC ```
31
How does delirium present
``` Acute and transient Fluctuating course - worse at night Clouding of consciousness Impaired concentration and memory Can be drowsy and quiet or very agitated Visual and auditory hallucinations ```
32
What are the first rank symptoms of Schizophrenia
Delusion Auditory hallucinations - often persecutory Thought disorders - withdrawal, insertion, broadcasting etc Passivity experiences - impulse, affect etc
33
List the subtypes of schizophrenia
Paranoid - most common and predominately the frist rank symptoms Hebephrenic - younger onset, immaturity and silliness to them, playing pranks and giggling Catatonic – characterised by movement disorder, will go rigid and hold a strange position for hours on end
34
What is schizoaffective disorder
The patient will have the first rank symptoms of schizophrenia and mania or depression
35
What is persistent delusional disorder
Fixed delusions are the major or only feature
36
What are the positive symptoms
``` Hallucinations Delusions Passivity Phenomena Disorder of the Form of Thought Thought insertion, withdrawal, broadcasting Breaks in train of thought Neologisms ```
37
What are examples of negative symptoms
``` Reduced speech Reduce motivation Reduced interest or pleasure Reduced social interaction Blunting of affect Catatonia ```
38
What causes schizophrenia
A genetically determined neurodevelopmental vulnerability later triggered by environmental stressors
39
When does schizophrenia present
Onset is usually in young adults Peak incidence 15-25 years for men Peak incidence 25-35 year for women
40
There is a higher incidence of schizophrenia in lower socioeconomic classes - true or false
True
41
What are the risk factors for schizophrenia
``` Genetics - strong component Birth complications - labour issues, prem birth or infection exposure Winter/spring birth Drug use - cannabis Urban dwelling Social deprivation Neurodevelopmental changes Altered dopamine signalling ```
42
What are the bad prognostic indicators for schizophrenia
``` Poor pre-morbid adjustment Insidious onset Early onset Long duration of untreated psychosis Cognitive impairment Enlarged ventricles ```
43
What are the good prognostic indicators for schizophrenia
Older age of onset Female gender Marked mood disturbance especially elation Family history of mood disorder
44
What is the suicide risk for schizophrenia
10-15% completed suicide rate May occur following recovery of insight High risk time in first week of discharge from hospital
45
Do genetics have an influence on schizophrenia
Yes There is a 78% heritability High incidence in MZ twins or if parents have it No single gene involved though - it is a multifactorial
46
What signs could be seen on a brain scan in someone with schizophrenia
Reduced frontal lobe volume Reduced frontal lobe grey matter Widely distributed grey matter abnormalities Enlarged lateral ventricle volume
47
How is dopamine associated with schizophrenia
Drugs which release dopamine in the brain can produce a psychotic state Amphetamines do this and can make the symptoms of schizophrenia worse
48
What class of drugs can be used to treat schizophrenia
Dopamine receptor antagonists | Reduce the amount of dopamine in the brain
49
Which neurotransmitters may contribute to schizophrenia
Dopamine - excess Serotonin Glutamine
50
List some of the typical antipsychotics
Chlorpromazine | Haloperidol
51
List some of the atypical anti-psychotics
Olanzapine Risperidone Clozapine
52
What are the benefits of the atypical anti-psychotics
Less likely to induce Extra-Pyramidal side-effects Better efficacy against negative symptoms Effective in patients unresponsive to typical drugs
53
What are the side effects of blocking dopamine in order to treat schizophrenia
Acute dystonia (muscle spasms) - takes hours to days Parkinsonism Tardive dyskinesia- repetitive involuntary purposeless movements-
54
What happens if you block histamine receptors
Sedation | Increased appetite
55
What happens if you block alpha-adrenergic receptors
May cause hypotension and interrupts baroreflex response | Leads to dizziness, light-headedness and fainting
56
What happens if you use drugs to cause a muscarinic blockade
``` Blurred vision Dry mouth Constipation Urinary retention Sedation and confusion Affects the parasympathetic ```
57
Which antipsychotic can cause agranulocytosis
Clozapine | If the patient presents with a sore throat you must get a FBC
58
What is clanging and punning
When the speech flows from one rhyming word to another or with pun associations "Are you well, Adele, I like Adele"
59
What are the diagnostic criteria for Schizophrenia
At least one of the first rank symptoms, lasting for over a month, 2 of the positive/negative and no evidence of influence of drugs, alcohol, mood disorder or any other organic cause (e.g. dementia)
60
What type of hallucinations are common in withdrawal
Tactile and visual hallucinations | often bugs crawling on them
61
Flight of ideas is characteristic of which disorder
Mania
62
What is the most common type of hallucination seen in schizophrenia
third person auditory hallucinations
63
What are the two main classes of drugs used to treat psychosis
Typical anti-psychotics - first generation | Atypical anti-psychotics - second generation
64
Is there a genetic basis to schizophrenia
Yes Increased risk in children of affected parents Likely multiple genes and additional environmental effects
65
Dopamine may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia - true or false
``` True Central (mesolimbic) dopamine systems of the brain are considered to be overactive in schizophrenia Studies have shown that dopamine agonists may induce schizophrenic symptoms ```
66
What is posturing
The spontaneous adoption of fixed positions which are held for an abnormal length of time. Seen in schizophrenia and catatonia.
67
What is verbigeration
The obsessive repetition of random words and phrases without a stimulus. Most commonly seen in schizophrenia.
68
What is a made action
When the person feels as thought their actions are being controlled by an external agent. Their bodies are performing the action but they are not in control of it. Seen in schizophrenia.
69
What is gedankenlautwerden
A type of hallucination where patients hear their own thoughts aloud at the same time they think them. This is seen in schizophrenia.
70
What is folie a deux
An identical or similar mental disorder affecting two or more individuals, usually the members of a close family. They will share the same delusional beliefs and sometimes the same hallucinations
71
What is psychomotor retardation
The slowing down or hampering of mental or physical activities, typically seen in the form of slow thinking or slow body movements. Seen in depressive disorders.
72
What is a flashback
Psychological phenomena during which a person relives a past event or fragments of a past experience. This usually occurs involuntarily without a conscious attempt to remember the event.
73
What is denationalization
When a person feels detached from their thoughts, feelings and body. People may feel as though they are detached and observing themselves from outside their body.
74
What is hyperkinesis
A state of excessive restlessness. | Seen in ADHD.
75
What is mitgehen
Seen in catatonia. Even the slightest touch or pressure will move the patient but the body part immediately returns to the original position.
76
Describe flight of ideas
A manner of speaking where a person talks rapidly and jumps from topic to topic. It will be hard to keep up with them.
77
What is loosening of associations
A thought disturbance demonstrated by speech that is disconnected and fragmented, with the individual jumping from one idea to another unrelated or indirectly related idea
78
What is a nihilistic delusion
Persistent belief that the person is dead, decomposing or may have lost internal organs. They may also believe they do not exist entirely as a human being.
79
What is psychomotor agitation
Characterized by unintentional and purposeless motions and restlessness, often but not always accompanied by emotional distress. May include, pacing, tapping feet, wringing hands etc.
80
List signs and symptoms of catatonia
Immobility and stupor Mutism Staring and reduced blinking Posturing and cataplexy Grimacing - maintaining odd facial expressions Echopraxia - mimicking examiner's movement Echolalia - mimicking examiner's speech Stereotypy - repetitive, non-goal-directed activity (playing with fingers etc.) Repeating words and phrases - verbigeration Rigidity Waxy flexibility - initial resistance then allows repositioning Doing the opposite of instructions Withdrawal Excitement Passive obedience - mitgehen Automatic obedience

Psychiatry (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions