20. Schizophrenia

Question 1

Aetiology

Answer 1

Unknown. Genetic and environmental factors.

Malnutrition before birth, living environment, drug use, prenatal stressors. Different brain chemistry and structure.

Question 2

Signs and symptoms:

Answer 2

Hallucinations, delusions, impaired cognition, low motivation, social isolation, disordered behaviours and disordered thinking, disorganised speech, long term memory and attention.

Question 3

Describe hallucinations

Answer 3

Experiences and sensations that are not comprehensible to others. To the person experiencing them, they seem real, urgent and vivid.
Auditory (voices), Visual (seeing things or people), Olfactory (smell/taste), Tactile (movement or sensation).

Question 4

Describe delusions

Answer 4

Beliefs that conflict with reality.
Persecutory (someone is harming them), erotomanic (believes another is in love with them), somatic (believe they have an illness), Grandiose (talent, fame, wealth, god).

Question 5

Diagnosis

Answer 5

DSM-5. Based on: Observed behaviour, reported experiences and reports of others familiar with the person

Question 6

Risk factors:

Answer 6

Family history, exposure to viruses, complications during birth, psychosocial factors, malnutrition during pregnancy.

Question 7

Treatments

Answer 7

Antipsychotic drugs, psychotherapy. In combination with psychological and social supports.

Question 8

Comorbidities:

Answer 8

Anxiety, depression, substance abuse, obesity, personality disorder