Chapter 24

Question 1

Bleuler’s four A’s of Schizophrenia

Answer 1

1. Ambivalence
2. blunted Affect
3. Autism
4. loosening of Association

Question 2

DSM criteria for schizophrenia

Answer 2

1. Delusions
2. Hallucinations
3. Incoherent speech
4. Severely chaotic or catatonic behavior
5. Negative symptoms
   At least 2 symptoms, one of which is positive
   At least 6 months

Question 3

Onset of schizophrenia

Answer 3

Between 18 and 25

Question 4

Prevalence of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia patients

Answer 4

70-80%

Question 5

Incidence of schizophrenia

Answer 5

15 per 100.000 per year

Question 6

Etiology Schizophrenia

Answer 6

1. Higher risk for relatives of people with schizophrenia
2. Certain genes contribute to risk of schizophrenia
3. Age of father, pregnancy complications (early development)
4. Urban environment, cannabis use, migration, trauma (late development

Question 7

Neuropathology Schizophrenia

Answer 7

Decreased volume of gray matter in superior temporal gyrus and in medial temporal and limbic structures. Widening of ventricles and reduction of hippocampus

Question 8

Medication for Schizophrenia

Answer 8

1. First generation antipsychotic drugs: dopamine antagonist and sedating effect
2. Second generation antipsychotic drugs: involve more serotonin and glutamate receptors

Question 9

Cognitive impairments in Schizophrenia

Answer 9

1. Speed of information processing
2. Attention & vigilance
3. Learning and memory
4. Working memory, thought to be core of dysfunction of schizo patients
5. Executive functions

Question 10

Source monitoring bias (schizophrenia)

Answer 10

People who hallucinate have more trouble than others distinguishing their own thoughts and those of others

Question 11

Jumping to conclusions (schizophrenia)

Answer 11

Style of thought where conclusions are drawn when there is insufficient evidence available

Question 12

Rate limiting factors

Answer 12

Limit the option that an individual has to be competent in daily life

Question 13

Staging model for Schizophrenia

Answer 13

Schizophrenia comes in waves where the first signs are usually early in life but not yet enough for diagnosis. Can also be in remission later in life

Question 14

Dopamine hypothesis for Schizophrenia

Answer 14

Hyperactive dopamine transmission causes schizophrenic symptoms

Question 15

Limitations of Dopamine hypothesis for Schizophrenia

Answer 15

1. Only for positive symptoms
2. Too simplistic
3. Not in all patients
4. Doesn’t explain efficacy of some medications

Question 16

Glutamate hypothesis for schizophrenia

Answer 16

Proposes that schizophrenia symptoms and cognitive impairment are due to hypofunction of NMDARs and excessive glutamate release, especially in brain areas including prefrontal cortex and hippocampus