Chapter 10 - Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders Flashcards
what is the prevalence of schizophrenia?
- about 1% of the Canadian population suffers from schizophrenia at some point in their lives
- fifth leading cause of disability worldwide
- most common diagnosis of people who are involuntarily hospitalized
- 79% are unemployed
what percentage of people with schizophrenia abuse substances at some point in their lives?
80%
what percentage of people with schizophrenia attempt suicide? what percentage die from suicide?
40-60% attempt suicide, and about 10% die from suicide
what interferes with a schizophrenic’s ability to acquire housing, employment, and treatment?
stigma of violence
when does schizophrenia usually develop?
late teens or early 20s
what are the different types of delusions associated with schizophrenia? (6)
- delusions of persecution
- delusions of grandeur
- delusions of reference
- delusions of being controlled
- thought broadcasting
- thought insertion or withdrawal
what are the different types of hallucinations associated with schizophrenia? (4)
- visual/auditory (most common)
- tactile/somatic
- gustatory/olfactory
- command hallucinations
what are the causes of hallucinations? (3)
- excess levels of dopamine
- excess numbers of dopamine receptors
- overreactivity of dopamine receptors
what tends to reduce hallucinations?
antipsychotic drugs that block dopamine activity
what are the positive symptoms of schizophrenia? (5)
- hallucinations
- delusions
- thought disorder
- disorganized speech
- disorganized behaviour
what are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia? (6)
- social-skills deficits
- social withdrawal
- flattened affect
- poverty of speech and thought
- psychomotor retardation
- failure to experience pleasure
what are the psychodynamic perspectives of schizophrenia? (3)
- overwhelming of the ego by primitive sexual or aggressive drives or impulses arising from the id
- primary narcissism: person regresses to an early period in the oral stage
- primitive impulses cause bizarre, socially deviant behaviour and give rise to hallucinations and delusions
what are the learning perspectives of schizophrenia? (2)
- behaviour may result from a lack of social reinforcement which leads to gradual detachment from the social environment and increased attention to an inner world of fantasy
- modelling and reinforcement of bizarre behaviour
what are the biological perspectives of schizophrenia? (5)
- genetic factors (familial studies and cross-fostering studies)
- biochemical factors (dopamine theory and neuroleptic drugs)
- viral infections
- vitamin D deficiency in prenatal development
- brain abnormalities
what are the brain abnormalities associated with schizophrenia? (3)
- loss or thinning of brain tissue (grey matter) especially in the prefrontal cortex
- abnormally enlarged ventricles
- abnormal brain functioning
