characteristics of schizophrenia

Question 1

Kurt Schneider (1959) what did he suggest?

Answer 1

To categorize the symptoms of schizophrenia in being positive or negative symptoms

Question 2

Positive symptoms

Answer 2

Behaviours someone is exhibiting in ADDITION to ‘normal’ behaviours.
E.g. hallucinations, delusions, disordered thinking

Question 3

Negative symptoms

Answer 3

Behaviours that are inhibiting someone from demonstrating ‘normal’ behaviours e.g. lack of speech (alogia) not reacting appropriately (anhedonia) etc

Question 4

Hallucinations

Answer 4

Are perceptions that are unreal e.g. auditory hallucinations when people can hear voices, but they can present themselves in any sensory modality.

Question 5

Examples of hallucinations

Answer 5

Tactile hallucinations - something touching there skin

Formication - sensation of small insects on or under skin

Question 6

Delusions

Answer 6

Are beliefs that are unreal - they are usually experienced when there is no evidence of it being real.

Question 7

Examples of Delusions

Answer 7

• delusions of persecution - based on the idea that a person, group or organisation want to harm the individual e.g. beleiving the MI5 are following you as they think youre a threat to national security.
• delusions of grandiosity - assume they are special in some way e.g. that they are more powerful have superior knowledge, even assume the identity of particular historical figure.

Question 8

Disordered thinking (aka derailment)

Answer 8

• a persons thoughts and speech seem to jump from one topic to another for no apparent reason + show no logical flow of discussion.
• also some schizo believe they have thought insertion - when they believe someone else is putting in their thoughts

Question 9

Alogia

Answer 9

lack of speech - even short answers can be a problem

Question 10

Avolition

Answer 10

lack of motivation e.g. no desire in taking part in activities

Question 11

Anhedonia

Answer 11

where they dont react appropriately to a pleasureable experience e.g. a football fan not showing any excitement that their team scored

Question 12

Flatness of effect

Answer 12

when someone appears to have no emotion, show little facial emotional expressions such as smiling. It can be seen as apathetic as they dont show emotions like others e.g. when someone makes a joke, theyre the only one who doesnt laugh. They also have speech monotonous - they have a flatness in their tone of voice - no highs or lows in pitch.

Question 13

Catatonic behaviour

Answer 13

these issues can range from widely repetitive useless movements to no/little movement - they may move for no reason e.g. pacing. May also emit unexpected gestures.
Echopraxia may occur - when they copy the movements of others around them
At the other end of the spectrum, the person can remain immobile in uncomfortable positions for prolonged period of time.