Lecture Notes Flashcards
What is the metaphor used for flash mobs?
It takes courage to start, and as more people join, it becomes easier.
What is the professor’s research focus?
Schizophrenia and psychosis.
What are the general symptoms of schizophrenia?
Difficulty concentrating, mood swings, social isolation.
What are the specific symptoms of schizophrenia?
Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized behavior.
What are hallucinations?
Perceptual experiences that occur without an external stimulus.
What is the most common subtype of delusional disorder?
Persecutory subtype.
What is the primary importance of person-first language?
It recognizes the humanity of individuals before their condition.
What is the estimated genetic contribution to schizophrenia?
About 70-90% of the variation in the disorder.
What is the typical onset period for schizophrenia?
Early adulthood.
What is the lifetime prevalence of schizophrenia in the general population?
Approximately 1%.
What is the Two-Hit Model of schizophrenia?
A genetic vulnerability (first hit) interacts with environmental stressors (second hit) to trigger the disorder.
What environmental factors increase the risk of schizophrenia?
Childhood adversity, substance use, social isolation, stress.
What are the benefits of early intervention in psychosis?
Better long-term outcomes and reduced severity of symptoms.
How does cannabis use impact schizophrenia risk?
It increases risk, especially in those with genetic vulnerability.
What is the significance of COMT gene variation in schizophrenia risk?
It moderates the impact of adolescent cannabis use on psychosis development.
What is the primary treatment approach for schizophrenia?
Medication and therapy.
What is the relationship between schizophrenia and incarceration?
Individuals with schizophrenia are overrepresented in jails, often for minor offenses.
What is the Criminalization Hypothesis?
Deinstitutionalization and lack of mental health resources lead to incarceration.
What is the role of schools in psychosis identification?
Schools provide a key setting for early identification and intervention.
What is a common barrier to school-based mental health interventions?
Stigma, bureaucracy, and lack of trained professionals.
What accommodations can be provided to students with psychosis?
Extended test time, preferential seating, flexible attendance, pre-written notes.
What is the ethnic density hypothesis?
Ethnic minorities living in areas with fewer individuals of the same ethnicity have worse psychosis outcomes.
What is one historical misuse of psychiatry against Black Americans?
Schizophrenia diagnoses were used to marginalize civil rights activists.
How does social stress contribute to psychosis risk?
Chronic stress and discrimination can increase vulnerability to psychosis.
What are protective factors against psychosis?
Supportive social networks, early intervention, reducing discrimination and stigma.
