Lecture 4- Schizophrenia Flashcards
What is Schizophrenia?
A disabling psychological disorder that causes disturbances in thought processes, perception, and affect.
When do symptoms of Schizophrenia become apparent?
Late adolescence or early adulthood
What are the four phases of Schizophrenia?
Premorbid, Prodromal, Schizophrenia, and Residual
Premorbid Phase
Before clear evidence of illness begins, can go unnoticed
Prodromal Phase
Symptoms clearly manifest as signs of developing schizophrenia.
Symptoms of deterioration show along with social withdrawal and cognitive impairment
Brief (A few weeks or months, up to 5 years)
Schizophrenia Phase
Chronic illness characterized by acute episodes in which the symptoms are more pronounced. Notable psychotic symptoms
Residual Phase
Periods of remission and exacerbation following the active phase where symptoms are absent or no longer prominent
Positive symptoms may improve but negative symptoms may remain
Using substances with their meds can cause exacerbations.
Co-morbidity in Schizophrenia
Substance abuse
Nicotene dependence
Depressive symptoms
High percentage of anxiety disorders
Polydypsia
Co-morbidity 1
Substance abuse
In 40-50% of patients
A lot of them self-medicate
May be their way to socialize, out of boredum, or because they’re not connected to a community for support
Comorbidity 2
Nicotene dependence
In 80-90% of patients
Smoking is said to decrease hallucinations (esp. auditory)
Comorbidity 3
Depressive symptoms
Very common
10% of patients who try to commit suicide succeed
Comorbidity 4
Polydypsia
Increased thirst related to: Delutional thoughts
Changes in secretion of ADH
Abnormalities in the hypothalmic region
Patients who have this can throw off their electrolytes and cause cardiac issues!!
Schizophrenia symptoms can be caused by
Genetics
Excessive dopamine
Stress
Substances (bath salts, marijuana laced with formaldehyde)
Someone in a manic state
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Affect
Associative looseness
Autism
Ambivalence
Symptom
Affect
Flat affect
Blunted affect
Inappropriate affect
Visual manifestations associated with feelings or emotional tone
Our affect is not always congruent with our emotions in this disorder
Flat affect
Not a lot of expression
Blunted affect
Where you see some expressions but its less than what you would expect
Inappropriate affect
Talk about something sad and laugh
Symptom
Associative looseness
Half-hazard confused thinking that comes out as a logical speech
No connection
Symptom
Autism
They are not bound to reality with a private perceptual world (hallucinations, delusions, neologisms)
Symptom
Ambivalence
Difficulty making decisions
Difficulty with opposing emotions or attitudes with things
Difficulty realizing someone has different emotions and merging two things together to get overall picture
DSM-V diagnostic criteria
2 or more of the following and each are present for a significant of time for 1 month:
1. Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized of catatonic behavior, negative symptoms
2. Social/occupational dysfunction
3. Duration: Lasting for atleast 6 months
Delusion
Fixed false beliefs that are irrational and that the individual maintains are true despite evidence to the contrary
