Characteristics of Schizophrenia

Question 1

How many people in England and Wales are diagnosed with schizophrenia a year?

Answer 1

Approx. 22,000 people

Question 2

When is schizophrenia most likely to be diagnosed?

Answer 2

Between the ages of 15 and 35 and both men and woman are affected equally

Question 3

Who made the distinction between Type 1 and Type 2 symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 3

Schneider

Question 4

What is the definition of positive type 1 symptoms?

Answer 4

Symptoms a person is experiencing in addition to normal behaviours

Question 5

What are the most common positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 5

Delusions of paranoia and grandiosity
Hallucinations (auditory are most common)
Disordered Thinking

Question 6

What is the definition of negative symptoms?

Answer 6

Symptoms that inhibit an individual from demonstrating normal behaviour (such as being unable to hold a conversation)

Question 7

What are the most common negative symptoms?

Answer 7

Reduction in range and intensity of emotional expression
Alogia (reduction in speech/poverty of language)
Avolition (lack of interest in surroundings/indifferent to surroundings, neither the will or desire to take part in activities they once enjoyed, distinct lack of goal directed behaviour)
Anhedonia (not reacting appropriately)
Flatness of affect
Catatonic behaviour

Question 8

What are hallucinations?

Answer 8

Perceptions that are unreal

Question 9

What did Lewandoski estimate?

Answer 9

That 20% of people with schizophrenia experience tactile hallucinations

Question 10

What is formication?

Answer 10

Hallucination - the sensation of insects crawling over you

Question 11

What are delusions?

Answer 11

Beliefs that are unreal

Question 12

What are delusions of persecution?

Answer 12

Idea that a group or people want to harm you

Question 13

What are delusions of grandiosity?

Answer 13

Suggest an individual is special in some way e.g. believing they are powerful or assuming the identity of a particular historical figure

Question 14

What is disordered thinking?

Answer 14

Also known as derailment. When a persons thought and discourse jump from one topic to another with no reason. The comments of a person with schizophrenia may be hard to follow, muddled and incoherent. May also believe thoughts are not their own (thought insertion)

Question 15

How can you tell if someone is displaying catatonic behaviour?

Answer 15

May move erratically, copy the behaviours of others or remain immobile for prolonged periods of time. May remain rigid in bizarre positions

Question 16

Why is diagnostic criteria an issue in researching schizophrenia?

Answer 16

It can change over time and across cultures, limiting validity when researching previous or cross cultural findings

Question 17

Why is lack of insight a weakness when researching schizophrenia?

Answer 17

People with schizophrenia can have difficulty accepting the diagnosis as the symptoms appear real and rational to them

Question 18

Why is co-morbidity an issue when researching schizophrenia?

Answer 18

Symptoms overlap with other illnesses e.g. depression so a diagnosis can be difficulty to make with complete accuracy