19) Psychosis

Question 1

Define Psychosis

Answer 1

Presence of hallucinations or delusions.

It describes symptoms not a diagnosis in itself

Question 2

What are Hallucinations ?

What are some normal hallucinations ?

Answer 2

Perception of a stimulus
> Hypnogogic -> Going to sleep
> Hypnopompic -> Waking up

Question 3

What are delusions ?

Answer 3

A fixed false belief which is unshakeable, outside of cultural norms

Question 4

Outline the presentation of Schizophrenia

Answer 4

> Auditory Hallucinations
Thought Withdrawal - They believe thoughts are being taken out of their mind
Delusional Perceptions - Seeing something normal and giving it a different meaning
Passivity Experience - Believe their action or feeling is caused by an external force
Somatic Hallucinations

Question 5

What types of Auditory Hallucinations are there ?

Answer 5

3rd person
Running commentary
Thought echo

Question 6

Difference between Thought:
> Withdrawal
> Broadcast
> Insertion

Answer 6

Withdrawal - Taken out of mind
Broadcast - Everyone knows what the person is thinking
Insertion - Thoughts implanted by others

Question 7

What are positive and negative symptoms of Schizophrenia ?

Answer 7

\+ve:  Added Symptoms
> Delusions 
> Hallucinations 
> Thought Disorder 
> Lack of Insight 

-ve: Symptoms take away from patient 
> Underactivity 
> Low Motivation 
> Social withdrawal 
> Emotional Flattening

Question 8

Outline the different possible pathophysiology of Schizophrenia
> Dopamine pathways
> Brain Changes

Answer 8

Dopamine pathways:
> Over activity of Mesolimbic pathways 
> Under Activity of Mesocortical pathways 
- Dopamine comes from 
Ventral Tegmental Area

Brain Changes:
> Enlarged Ventricles
> Reduced / Amygdala / Prefrontal Cortex

Limbic system affected