1001 Schizophrenia

Question 1

List some of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia.

Answer 1

delusions, hallucinations, thought disorders.

Question 2

List some of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Answer 2

decreased motivation, altered expressions of emotions, decreased amount or content of speech, anhedonia (decreased enjoyment of otherwise enjoyable hings)

Question 3

What is required in the DSM V diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia?

Answer 3

(A) presence of the characteristic symptoms for over 1 month (e.g. delusions, hallucinations, disorganised speech and catatonic behaviour).
(B) reduced functioning
(C) a duration of signs of disturbance for at least 6 months.

Question 4

What is the mortality in schizophrenia? What reasons are behind this?

Answer 4

mortality rates are 2-3x higher than general population, dying 12-15 years earlier. Role of lifestyle factors (smoking, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle), side effect of medications.

Question 5

What are some of the genetic links to schizophrenia?

Answer 5

Near 50% association in monozygotic twins, high chance in 1st degree relatives. Involves copy number variants (CNV) which appear randomly in many chromosomes, often associated with other mental disorders such as autism and bipolar.

Question 6

List some of the neuropathological findings in schizophrenia.

Answer 6

reduced brain weight, decreased grey and white matter, enlarged ventricles, decreased synapses, cyto-architectural disarray (pyramidal disarray)

Question 7

What neurotransmitters are involved in schizophrenia?

Answer 7

Dopamine (excess) , glutamate (decrease), serotonin (excess), GABA (decrease)