Sz Key Words

Question 1

What is schizophrenia?

Answer 1

A severe mental disorder where contact with reality and insight are impaired.

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that usually occurs in late adolescence or early adulthood, but it can occur at any time in life.

Question 2

What is the purpose of classification in the context of schizophrenia?

Answer 2

The process of organising symptoms into categories based on which symptoms frequently cluster together.

Question 3

What does diagnosis mean?

Answer 3

The identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.

Question 4

What does DSM-5 stand for?

Answer 4

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition).

Question 5

What does ICD-10 stand for?

Answer 5

International Classification of Diseases (10th edition).

Question 6

What are positive symptoms in schizophrenia?

Answer 6

Atypical symptoms experienced in addition to normal experiences.

Question 7

Define hallucinations.

Answer 7

Sensory experiences that have either no basis in reality or are distorted perceptions of things that are there.

Question 8

What are delusions?

Answer 8

Beliefs that have no basis in reality.

Question 9

What are negative symptoms in schizophrenia?

Answer 9

Atypical experiences that represent the loss of a usual experience.

Question 10

What does speech poverty refer to?

Answer 10

Reduced frequency and quality of speech.

Question 11

What is avolition?

Answer 11

Loss of motivation to carry out tasks and results in lowered activity levels.

Question 12

What does reliability concern in the context of diagnosis?

Answer 12

The consistency of diagnosis.

Reliability refers to the degree to which an assessment tool produces stable and consistent results.

Question 13

What does validity concern in the context of diagnosis?

Answer 13

The accuracy of diagnosis.

Validity indicates how well a test measures what it is supposed to measure.

Question 14

What is co-morbidity?

Answer 14

The occurrence of two disorders or conditions together.

Co-morbidity raises questions about the validity of classifying the two disorders separately.

Question 15

What does symptom overlap refer to?

Answer 15

When two or more conditions share symptoms.

Symptom overlap can complicate the classification of disorders.

Question 16

What is gender bias in diagnosis?

Answer 16

The tendency for diagnostic criteria to be applied differently to males and females.

Gender bias can lead to disparities in diagnosis rates between genders.

Question 17

What is culture bias in diagnosis?

Answer 17

The tendency to over-diagnose members of other cultures as having schizophrenia.

Culture bias can affect the accuracy of mental health diagnoses across different cultural groups.

Question 18

Fill in the blank: Reliability concerns the _______ of diagnosis.

Answer 18

[consistency]

Question 19

Fill in the blank: Validity concerns the _______ of diagnosis.

Answer 19

[accuracy]

Question 20

Fill in the blank: Co-morbidity is the occurrence of _______.

Answer 20

[two disorders or conditions together]

Question 21

True or False: Symptom overlap can lead to clearer distinctions between disorders.

Answer 21

False

Symptom overlap typically complicates the classification of disorders.

Question 22

What is the biological theory that sees genes inherited from one’s ancestors as forming the basis for schizophrenia?

Answer 22

Genetic explanations

This theory suggests that genetic factors play a significant role in the development of schizophrenia.

Question 23

What are candidate genes?

Answer 23

Specific genes that relate to a particular trait, in this case schizophrenia.

Candidate genes are often targeted in genetic studies to understand their role in the disorder.

Question 24

What does it mean if a condition is described as aetiologically heterogeneous?

Answer 24

Several different combinations of genes can lead to, in this case, schizophrenia.

Aetiological heterogeneity implies that multiple genetic pathways may contribute to the same condition.

Question 25

What is the concordance rate?

Answer 25

A measure of similarity, usually expressed as a percentage, between two individuals or two sets of individuals on a given trait, in this case schizophrenia. ## Footnote Higher concordance rates in identical twins compared to fraternal twins suggest a genetic component.

Question 26

Define polygenic.

Answer 26

When a characteristic, in this case schizophrenia, is influenced by two or more genes. ## Footnote Polygenic inheritance indicates that multiple genetic factors contribute to the expression of a trait.

Question 27

What are neural correlates?

Answer 27

Structural and functional changes in the brain that result in the characteristic symptoms of a behaviour or mental disorder, in this case schizophrenia. ## Footnote Neural correlates are critical for understanding the biological basis of mental disorders.

Question 28

What is dopamine?

Answer 28

A neurotransmitter that generally has an excitatory effect and is linked to the sensation of pleasure. ## Footnote Dopamine plays a key role in reward, motivation, and motor control.

Question 29

What does hyperdopaminergic mean?

Answer 29

High levels of dopamine activity. ## Footnote Hyperdopaminergic states are often associated with conditions like schizophrenia.

Question 30

What does hypodopaminergic mean?

Answer 30

Low levels of dopamine activity. ## Footnote Hypodopaminergic states can be linked to disorders such as depression.

Question 31

Define neural correlate.

Answer 31

Structural and functional changes in the brain related to symptoms of mental disorders. ## Footnote This concept is essential for linking brain activity to psychological phenomena.

Question 32

What is the definition of family dysfunction?

Answer 32

Family dysfunction refers to the processes within a family that are dysfunctional, i.e., impaired. ## Footnote These processes may be risk factors for both the development and the maintenance of schizophrenia.

Question 33

What characterizes a 'schizophrenogenic mother'?

Answer 33

A mother who is cold, rejecting, and controlling. ## Footnote This term is used to describe a specific family dynamic that may contribute to the onset of schizophrenia.

Question 34

What are double-bind situations?

Answer 34

Social interactions in which an individual is repeatedly exposed to conflicting instructions, without having the opportunity to adequately respond to those instructions, or to ignore them. ## Footnote Double-bind situations can create confusion and distress, potentially impacting mental health.

Question 35

What does expressed emotion refer to?

Answer 35

The level of emotion (usually negative) expressed towards a person with schizophrenia by their family members or carers. ## Footnote High expressed emotion is associated with poorer outcomes in individuals with schizophrenia.

Question 36

What are cognitive explanations?

Answer 36

Explanations that focus on mental processes (such as thinking, language and attention) as underpinning behaviour, in this case schizophrenia. ## Footnote Cognitive explanations emphasize how cognitive processes influence behavior.

Question 37

What is dysfunctional thought processing?

Answer 37

Information processing that does not represent reality accurately and produces undesirable consequences. ## Footnote Dysfunctional thought processing can lead to various psychological issues.

Question 38

Define metacognition.

Answer 38

The cognitive monitoring of one's own thought processes. ## Footnote Metacognition involves awareness and control over cognitive processes.

Question 39

What does central control refer to in cognitive processes?

Answer 39

The cognitive ability to suppress automatic responses while performing deliberate actions. ## Footnote Central control is crucial for tasks that require focused attention and decision-making.

Question 40

What is drug therapy?

Answer 40

Treatment of mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, using medication to reduce the symptoms of the disorder. ## Footnote Drug therapy can involve various classes of medications, including antipsychotics.

Question 41

What are typical antipsychotics?

Answer 41

These are dopamine antagonists; they bind to but do not stimulate dopamine receptors. They work to reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia. ## Footnote Typical antipsychotics are often the first line of treatment for schizophrenia.

Question 42

What are atypical antipsychotics?

Answer 42

These typically target a range of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. They work to reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia. ## Footnote Atypical antipsychotics are known for having a different side effect profile compared to typical antipsychotics.

Question 43

What is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)?

Answer 43

A method for treating mental disorders based on both cognitive and behavioural techniques.

Question 44

What are the main aims of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)?

Answer 44

To deal with thinking and to change behaviour as a response.

Question 45

CBT primarily focuses on challenging _______ thoughts and beliefs.

Answer 45

[negative]

Question 46

True or False: CBT only focuses on cognitive techniques.

Answer 46

False

Question 47

Name two key components of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

Answer 47

* Cognitive techniques * Behavioural techniques

Question 48

What is a token economy?

Answer 48

A form of behavioural modification where desirable behaviours are encouraged by the use of selective reinforcement. ## Footnote Token economies are often used in various settings, including schools and therapeutic environments, to reinforce positive behaviours.

Question 49

What is a primary reinforcer?

Answer 49

'Things' that are innately reinforcing, such as food or warmth. ## Footnote Primary reinforcers are essential for survival and do not require any learning to be effective.

Question 50

What is a secondary reinforcer?

Answer 50

A stimulus (token) that reinforces a behaviour after it has been associated with a primary reinforcer (reward). ## Footnote Examples of secondary reinforcers include money, praise, and tokens in a token economy.

Question 51

What does institutionalisation refer to?

Answer 51

The effects of living in a hospital for a prolonged period. ## Footnote Institutionalisation can lead to various psychological and social issues, including dependency and difficulty in social reintegration.

Question 52

What is the interactionist approach?

Answer 52

A broad approach to explaining behaviour, which acknowledges that a range of factors, including biological and psychological factors, are involved in the development of a disorder. ## Footnote This approach emphasizes the complexity of factors contributing to psychological disorders.

Question 53

What does the diathesis-stress model focus on?

Answer 53

An interactionist approach to explaining behaviour that focuses on both an underlying vulnerability and a trigger, both of which are necessary for the onset of a disorder. ## Footnote The model highlights the interaction between predisposition and environmental stressors.

Question 54

Define diathesis in the context of psychological disorders.

Answer 54

An underlying vulnerability that can be triggered by a stress, resulting in the development of disorder. ## Footnote Diathesis can be genetic, biological, or psychological in nature.

Question 55

What is stress in the context of the diathesis-stress model?

Answer 55

A trigger which interacts with an underlying vulnerability, resulting in the development of disorder. ## Footnote Stressors can be environmental, social, or situational factors that provoke a response.

Question 56

What is the interactionist approach?

Answer 56

A broad approach to explaining behaviour, which acknowledges that a range of factors, including biological and psychological factors, are involved in the development of a disorder.