Chapter 12: Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders Flashcards
Gross departure from reality which may include hallucinations and delusions
Psychosis
Hallucinations
sensory experiences in the absence of sensory input (e.g. hearing voices)
most common: auditory
broca’s area most active during auditory hallucinations
Delusions
Strong, inaccurate beliefs that persist in the face of evidence to the contrary.
delusions of grandeur and persecution
What is the “positive” symptom cluster?
Schizophrenia
active manifestations of abnormal behavior, distortions or exaggeration of normal behavior
delusions, hallucinations
What is the “negative” symptom cluster?
Schizophrenia
absence or insufficiency of normal behavior
apathy (lack of persistence), alogia (absence of speech), anhedonia (lack of pleasure), affective flattening (little expressed emotion)
What is the “disorganized” symptom cluster?
Schizophrenia
Confused or abnormal speech, behavior, and emotion
cognitive slippage (illogical speech), tangentiality (tangents), loose associations (unrelated topic)
Unusual motor responses, particularly immobility or agitation, and odd mannerisms
catatonia
rare
Schizophrenia
Description: hallucinations and/or delusions for more than 6 months, and odd behavior. Usually hear things, see things, and believe things that aren’t true
Causes: starts to develop in high school age, evident in college age. Poor prognosis. Stressors in the persons life mixed with their biology pushed them into psychosis. Overactive dopamine.
Treatment: NO TREATMENT. Antipsychotics help but have such strong side effects people won’t keep taking them. Drugs that decrease dopamine.
Brief Psychotic Disorder
Description: psychotic symptoms lasting <1 month
Causes: substances, drugs
Treatment: the effects wear off as you stop taking the substances, most patients resume normal lives
Schizophreniform Disorder
Description: psychotic symptoms lasting between 1-6 months
Causes: don’t know, probably not important
Treatment: most patients resume normal lives
Schizoaffective Disorder
Description: symptoms of schizophrenia + additional experience of a major mood episode (depressive or manic)
Causes:???
Treatment: don’t get better on their own
Delusional Disorder
Description: strongly held belief that aren’t true. Delusions that are contrary to reality.
Treatment: better prognosis than schizophrenia
What is the medication for psychotic disorders aimed at?
dopamine
reduce schizophrenic-like behavior
strong side effects: parkinson’s-like side effects, Tardive dyskinesia (involves involuntary movements of the tongue, face, mouth, or jaw)
Twin study
monozygotic twins 47% chance of getting schizophrenia if one twin has it
Offspring of two parents with schizophrenia 46% chance
A social learning behavior modification system in which individuals earn items they can exchange for desired awards y displaying appropriate behaviors
Token Economy
