ch. 14.3 Schizophrenia Flashcards
Why are hallucinations considered a positive symptom?
Hallucinations are considered a positive symptom because they are present when they should be absent. A “positive” symptom is not a “good” symptom.
Someone with the symptoms of schizophrenia might not
qualify for the diagnosis. Why not?
Other conditions such as drug abuse or brain damage can produce similar symptoms.
The fact that adopted children who develop schizophrenia usually have biological relatives with schizophrenia implies a probable genetic basis. What other interpretation is possible?
A biological mother can influence her child’s develop- ment through prenatal environment as well as genetics.
What is a microdeletion?
A microdeletion is an error in reproduction that deletes a small part of a chromosome
According to the neurodevelopmental hypothesis, when do the brain abnormalities associated with schizophrenia originate?
Initial problems begin before birth or soon after birth, but they combine with the effects of later difficulties.
If brain abnormalities do not continue to grow worse over
time, what is the implication for the possibility of recovery?
The prospects for recovery are more encouraging than they would seem if the brain were continuing to dete- riorate over time. With any type of brain damage, some degree of recovery over time is likely.
The ability of traditional antipsychotic drugs to relieve schizophrenia correlates strongly with what effect on neurotransmitters?
Their ability to relieve schizophrenia correlates strongly with how well they block activity at dopamine synapses.
What are the advantages of the second-generation
antipsychotics?
According to the neurodevelopmental hypothesis, what starts schizophrenia?
Disorders of brain development before or shortly after birth
If schizophrenia is due to abnormal brain development in early life, how can we account for the fact that behavioral
symptoms are not apparent until later in life?
A prime area of damage is the prefrontal cortex, which matures very slowly.
What is the effect of antipsychotic drugs on synapses?
They block certain dopamine synapses.
