Introduction Flashcards
What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder. This means it is a severe mental illness where contact with reality and insight are impaired
How much of the population does schizophrenia affect?
1% - roughly 1 in every 100 people
When does schizophrenia tend to be diagnosed in males?
Mid-20’s
When does schizophrenia tend to be diagnosed in females?
Early 30s
Bleuler (1978)
Longitudinal study of 2000 schizophrenics. Found that symptoms are most severe in early adulthood, during the first 5 years after onset.
What are the 3 key percentages on outcomes of schizophrenia?
- 40% of individuals recover from positive symptoms
- 20% make a full recovery if diagnosed early
- 40% continue to suffer from symptoms and distress for the rest of their lives
Stirling and Hellewell
About 25% of sufferers will get better after only one episode of illness. 50-65% will improve but continue to have boughts. The remainder will have persistant difficulties
What is the chance of sufferers dying by their own hand?
5-10%
What are sufferers at a higher risk of developing?
Preventable physical diseases such as CVD, metabolic disease and infections
What are hallucinations?
A positive symptom, false sensory experiences that may not have an identifiable source.
- Auditory (hearing voices)
- Visual (seeing things that aren’t there)
- Olfactory (smelling things that aren’t there)
- Tactile (feeling things that aren’t there)
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What are delusions?
A positive symptom, false beliefs, not based on facts or evidence.
- Persecution (belief that one is victimised or spied on)
- Grandeur (belief of great power and importance)
- Control (belief that their thoughts are being controlled)
What is disorganised thinking and speech?
A positive symptom, sufferers find it hard to concentrate on anything, thoughts drift from one thing to another often with no connection. E.g. Trouble finishing a book or TV programme and with college work. Words may also become jumbled or confused.
What is speech poverty (alogia)?
A negative symptom. - Reduction in communication.
- Short, empty replies to questions
- Patient has difficulty starting a conversation and finds it hard to speak to people
- They have lost spontaneity
- Results from the slowing/blocking of thoughts
What is lack of emotion (flat effect)?
A negative symptom. A reduction or flattening of emotions. The range and intensity of facial expressions, tone of voice and eye contact are reduced. Body language becomes difficult to interpret.
What is avolition (social withdrawal)?
A negative symptom.
- Lack of motivation
- Severe lack of initiative to accomplish tasks
- Could neglect household chores, personal grooming and hygiene
- Likely to have very low sex drive
What is apathy?
A negative symptom.
- Difficulty in planning and setting goals.
- No interest in socialising or hobbies
- Does not want to do anything and will sit in the house for hours or even days
What is the inappropriate effect?
Emotional expressions are unsuitable for the situation. E.g. laughing at serious things
Incidence of schizophrenia is __x higher amongst males
2-3x
Percentage of sufferers with work in the UK
13%
Percentage of rough sleeping individuals with schizophrenia in the UK
10%
Percentage of sufferers not receiving appropriate care
69%
What are the secondary symptoms of schizophrenia?
- Depression
- Loss of employment
- Breakdown of relationships
Characteristic symptoms for classifying schizophrenia?
Two or more of the following are present for 1 month
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganised speech
- Grossly disorganised or catatonic behaviour
- Negative symptoms such as diminished emotional expression
Social/occupational dysfunction for classifying schizophrenia?
Impairment in one of the major areas of functioning for a significant period of time since the onset of the disturbance. Work, interpersonal relations, or self-care
