Clinical characteristics of schizophrenia Flashcards
Under DSM diagnosis, schizophrenia requires two or more of what symptoms to be apparent for over a month?
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganised speech
- Catatonic behaviour
- Negative symptoms: Affective flattening, Alogia, Avolition.
What are delusions?
Bizarre beliefs that are not real, paranoid, fearful of persecution, inflated beliefs about the persons power or importance.
When, is only one of the symptoms required for
diagnosis of Schizophrenia?
If delusions are interpreted as “bizarre” or hallucinations consist of voice keeping a running commentary on behaviour or thoughts, or if two or more voices are conversing with each other.
Explain what is meant by Social/Occupational dysfunction.
Social/Occupational dysfunction: For a significant
portion of time one or more major areas of functioning
such as work, relationships or self-care or
markedly lower than the level prior to onset.
How long do the continuous signs of the disturbance need to persist for?
Continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least a 6 month period.
Define positive symptoms.
Positive symptoms: are symptoms that occur in
excess of normal functions
= Auditory hallucinations (hearing voices)
= Delusions (believing things that aren’t true)
= Thought control (believing that thoughts are being controlled or broadcasted)
= Visual hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t there)
= Incoherent/disorganised speech
= Distorted thinking
What are the experiences of control?
Belief they are under the control of an external force; god or aliens, spirits that have invaded their mind.
What are hallucinations?
Bizarre unreal perceptions of the environment; Hearing voices, seeing things that are not there, even smelling things.
What is meant by disordered thinking?
Feeling of thoughts being inserted or withdrawn from ones mind. Other cases a person may think their thoughts are being broadcast to others. Incoherent or loose speech.
What are negative symptoms?
They are those that appear to reflect a diminution or loss of normal functions: Affective flattening, Alogia & Avolition
What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is often described as a psychosis, a disorder in which the patient loses touch with reality. It is a disintegration of personality that affects thinking, perception, memory emotions, motivations, interpersonal skills, and behaviour. There is a loss of contact with reality, so the patient may hear voices, hallucinate visual images, or have delusional ideas.
What are the two types Schizophrenia?
Acute = sudden onset, behaviour changes rapidly over a few days
Chronic = gradual deterioration in mental health over a long period of time
