15.8 Schizophrenia Flashcards
Schizophrenia
severe disorder characterized by major disturbances in thought, perception, emotion, and behavior with symptoms that include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and behavior, and negative symptoms
hallucination
perceptual experience that occurs in the absence of external stimulation, such as the auditory hallucinations (hearing voices) common to schizophrenia
Delusions
belief that is contrary to reality and is firmly held, despite contradictory evidence
paranoid delusions
characterized by beliefs that others are out to harm them
grandiose delusions
characterized by beliefs that one holds special power, unique knowledge, or is extremely important
somatic delusion
belief that something highly unusual is happening to one’s body or internal organs
Disorganized thinking
disjointed and incoherent thought processes, usually detected by what a person says
Disorganized or abnormal motor behavior
highly unusual behaviors and movements (such as child-like behaviors), repeated and purposeless movements, and displaying odd facial expressions and gestures
catatonic behaviors
decreased reactivity to the environment; includes posturing and catatonic stupor
Negative symptoms
characterized by decreases and absences in certain normal behaviors, emotions, or drives, such as an expressionless face, lack of motivation to engage in activities, reduced speech, lack of social engagement, and inability to experience pleasure
dopamine hypothesis
theory of schizophrenia that proposes that an overabundance of dopamine or dopamine receptors is responsible for the onset and maintenance of schizophrenia
ventricles
one of the fluid-filled cavities within the brain
prodromal symptoms
in schizophrenia, one of the early minor symptoms of psychosis
