diagnosis and classification

Question 1

What is schizophrenia?

Answer 1

S is a severe mental illness where contact with reality and insight are impaired, an example of psychosis. This leads to maladaptive and bizarre behaviour.

Question 2

What is psychosis?

Answer 2

a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality

Question 3

Define classification.

Answer 3

The process of organising symptoms into categories based on which symptoms cluster together in sufferers

Question 4

Define diagnosis.

Answer 4

Diagnosis refers to the assigning of a label of a disorder to a patient

Question 5

Explain the difference between Type one and Type two schizophrenia.

Answer 5

Type one schizophrenia is an acute type, whereas Type two is a chronic type of schizophrenia

Type one is characterised by the the positive symptoms, whilst Type two is characterised by the negative symptoms

Type one has better prospects of recovery, Type two has poorer prospects of recovery

Question 6

Explain what positive symptoms are.

Answer 6

Involves displaying behaviours concerning loss of touch with reality:
-hallucinations and delusions
-occur in acute, short episodes
-responds well to medication

Question 7

Explain what negative symptoms are.

Answer 7

The disruption of normal emotions and actions

Occurs in chronic, long lasting episodes

Resistant to medication

Contributes to sufferers not being able to function effectively in society- FFA link.

Can affect work, relationships etc.

Question 8

What did Schneider do in 1959?

Answer 8

He detailed the first rank of symptoms of schizophrenia

(check if Schneider is m/f/o)

Question 9

Describe thought disturbances.

Answer 9

insertion= individual believes thoughts are being inserted to their mind by external forces

withdrawal= individual believes their thoughts are being withdrawn from their mind by external forces

broadcasting= believes thoughts are being broadcasted by a special transmitter

Question 10

Describe hallucinations

Answer 10

false or distorted sensory experiences that appear to be real perceptions to schizophrenics

auditory, visual, tactile, olfactory

Question 11

Describe auditory hallucinations.

Answer 11

experiencing voices often insulting and obscene, in their head

form running commentaries

often occur with simultaneous delusions

Question 12

Describe delusions.

Answer 12

Ideas and beliefs individuals believe are true but are impossible or very unlikely to be true

Delusions of:
Grandeur-> false belief in one’s power or importance

Reference-> random events are a meaningful pattern of events.

Guilt-> believing you’ve done something wrong e.g. killing someone

Control-> thoughts, feelings etc controlled by someone else

Persecution-> friends, family etc plotting against them

Question 13

Who added four new symptoms and when?

Answer 13

Slater and Roth in 1969.
Most were negative
Avolition
Psychomotor disturbances
Disturbances of effect
Thought process disorder

Question 14

Describe thought process disorder.

Answer 14

Sufferers wander off their point, invent new words and phrases, stop mid-sentence, interpret language literally and indulge in speech poverty.

Question 15

Describe disturbances of effect.

Answer 15

Sufferers appear uncaring for others -> displaying inappropriate emotional responses
E.g. giggle at bad news

Question 16

Describe psychomotor disturbances.

Answer 16

Adopt frozen, statue like poses, exhibit tics and twitches, repetitive behaviour

Question 17

Describe avolition

Answer 17

The inability to make decisions, no enthusiasm or energy, lose interest in personal hygiene and lack of socia