Ch. 48: Neurobiology of Psychotic Illnesses Flashcards
Which best describes schizophrenia?
A. Split personality
B. Synchronized brain function
B. Affects 9% of the world’s population
C. Splitting of the functions of the mind
D. Splitting of the functions of the mind
Schizophrenia is best described as splitting of the functions of the mind with loss of synchronized brain function. This leads to thoughts, behaviors, and feelings that are disordered, disorganized, and disconnected from reality. Schizophrenia does not involve the personality, but rather brain function. Synchronized infers working together; that is not a characteristic of schizophrenic brain function. Schizophrenia is believed to affect 1% of the world’s population.
Which statement is true regarding the neurochemical properties of schizophrenia?
A. Dopamine agonists reduce symptoms of schizophrenia.
B. Dopamine antagonists produce schizophrenic symptoms.
C. Dopamine-specific neurons are located in the cerebellum.
D. Abnormal neurotransmission and connectivity are the basis.
D. Abnormal neurotransmission and connectivity are the basis.
Abnormal neurotransmission and connectivity are the basis for schizophrenia. Dopamine antagonists reduce symptoms; dopamine agonists produce symptoms of schizophrenia. Dopamine-specific neurons in the brain primarily are located in the ventral tegmentum of the mesencephalon.
Which is the most common age of onset of schizophrenia for men?
A. 15 to 25 years
B. 25 to 35 years
C. 35 to 45 years
D. 45 to 54 years
A. 15 to 25 years
Schizophrenia presents in men between the ages of 15 and 25. In woman it presents later, between 25 and 35. After 35 years would be considered late for the onset of the symptoms.
A 19-year-old man diagnosed with schizophrenia states that the FBI is coming to arrest him for treason, despite the fact that his family and physicians try and provide evidence to the contrary. This is an example of a(n)
A. Affect
B. Delusion
C. Anhedonia
D. Hallucination
B. Delusion
This is a delusion. These are systematic false beliefs that persist despite evidence to the contrary. Affect is emotional tone and is blunted in those with schizophrenia. Anhedonia means the absence of pleasure or interest. Hallucinations indicate the breakdown of perceptual selectivity. The ability to sort and process sensory information is lost. Perceptions of the senses occur without true stimuli being present.
What side effect of antipsychotic medications is irreversible?
A. Weight loss
B. Weight gain
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Tardive dyskinesia
D. Tardive dyskinesia
Tardive dyskinesia is the one irreversible side effect of the newer antipsychotic medications. Weight loss is not a typical side effect of antipsychotic medications. Weight gain while undesirable is generally reversible with appropriate diet and exercise. Hyperglycemia while undesirable is generally manageable with appropriate medication, diet and exercise.
Which statement is true regarding delusional disorder?
A. It is independent of life stressors.
B. It usually indicates schizophrenia.
C. Mental functions are not involved.
D. Hallucinations are common among the mentally ill.
B. It usually indicates schizophrenia
Mental and cognitive functions are often not involved but rather perceptional functions. The onset of delusional symptoms may occur with a stressful situation in the individual’s life. This disorder may eventually prove to be a form of schizophrenia, but most experts believe that it is a separate disorder. Hallucinations are not common.
A patient has decreased appetite and loss of interest in activities for more than 2 years. These assessments support which diagnosis?
A. Bipolar disorder
B. Major depression
C. Schizophrenia
D. Dysthymia
D. Dysthymia
Dysthymia is depression with one or two symptoms that last 2 years or longer. This is often referred to as minor depression. Bipolar disorders involves affective changes from depression and mania. Major depression requires the presence of multiple symptoms that are intense enough to cause distress and impair psychosocial functioning. Schizophrenia has alterations in cognitive function.
Which symptom is the hallmark of bipolar disorder?
A. Mania
B. Delusions
C. Depression
D. Hallucinations
A. Mania
Mania is the hallmark of bipolar disorder. The most recognizable course of illness is the sudden onset of severe mania lasting from weeks to months. Mania may be severe enough to cause psychosis, including delusions and hallucinations, and it may be mistaken for schizophrenia. If depression is the only symptom, bipolar disorder is difficult to diagnose. Mania may be severe enough to cause psychosis including delusions and hallucinations, and it may be mistaken for schizophrenia.
Which is a characteristic of bipolar III disorder?
A. No cycling of moods
B. Short periods of hypomania
C. Multiple initial episodes of mania
D. Repeated depressive episodes prior to onset of mania
D. Repeated depressive episodes prior to onset of mania
Bipolar III is a disorder that includes years of repeated depression before the initial onset of mania. There is rapid cycling of moods. Patients may have protracted hypomania causing psychosocial disturbance without impairment. Episodes of mania are not generally considered when diagnosis is made.
What is the most commonly used mood-stabilizing drug for bipolar disorder?
A. Lithium (Lithobid)
B. Divalproex (Divalproex)
C. Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
D. Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
A. Lithium (Lithobid)
Lithium is the standard in mood-stabilization medication. Other anticonvulsants are being considered, including divalproex, lamotrigine, and carbamazepine.
Which statement is true regarding bipolar disorder and depression?
A. Men are more commonly affected by depression than women.
B. Bipolar disorder is a dysfunction of dopamine transmission.
C. The average age of onset for depression is age 20.
D. The onset of bipolar disorder is age 30.
D. The onset of bipolar disorder is age 30.
Bipolar disorder has an average age of onset of 30. Women are more commonly affected than men. Bipolar disorder is caused by abnormal norepinephrine and serotonin levels. Age 40 is the average age of onset for depression.
Which characteristic of schizophrenia is termed a positive symptom? (Select all that apply.)
A. Blunted emotional activity
B. Disorganized thinking
C. Social withdrawal
D. Hallucinations
E. Delusions
B. Disorganized thinking
The positive symptoms of schizophrenia are thought to result from excessive dopamine D2-receptor activity that includes disorganized thinking, hallucinations, and delusions.<b> </b>Negative symptoms include dull/blunted emotion and withdrawal and isolation.
Which neurological assessment data is found in children who later develop schizophrenia? (Select all that apply.)
A. Facial tics
B. Hallucinations
C. Abnormal blinking
D. Vivid imagination
E. Abnormal pupil reflex
A. Facial tics
B. Abnormal pupil reflex
Abnormal facial movements, blinking, and pupil reflex are found in children who later develop schizophrenia. Hallucinations are not classified as neurological. A vivid imagination is not a characteristic of schizophrenia nor considered neurological in nature.
Which neurotransmitter abnormality is associated with depression? (Select all that apply.)
A. Decreased norepinephrine
B. Increased norepinephrine
C. Decreased serotonin
D. Increased serotonin
E. Decreased dopamine
F. Increased dopamine
A. Decreased norepinephrine
C. Decreased serotonin
Decreased norepinephrine and serotonin is believed to contribute to the neurobiologic reason for depression. Depression is thought to occur when serotonin and norepinephrine activity in the brain is low
Which side effects of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)? (Select all that apply.)
A. Dry mouth
B. Gastrointestinal upset
C. Significant weight loss
D. Improper increase in sex drive
E. Difficult initiating urinary flow
A. Dry mouth
B. Gastrointestinal upset
Dry mouth, gastrointestinal upset, and difficulty initiating urinary flow are side effects of SSRI therapy. Weight gain, not loss, and a decrease in sexual interest, arousal, and anorgasmia are side effects of SSRI therapy.
