Psychopathology

Question 1

Types of hallucinations

Answer 1

• Auditory
• Visual (not common in schizophrenia; if they present with them get a scan) - a/w dementia, drug/alcohol use
• Tactile (eg. sensation of something crawling under skin a/w drug use, drug withdrawal)
• Visceral (eg having a bug in the stomach)
• Olfactory hallucination in schizophrenia or brain tumour
• Gustatory hallucination (‘funny taste’)

Question 2

Auditory hallucinations types

Answer 2

1st person - listening to your own thoughts
2nd person - someone talking TO you eg. command hallucination - telling you what to do
3rd person - 2 people are talking ABOUT you

(2nd and 3rd person are the most common in schizophrenia)

Question 3

Auditory Hallucination vs Pseudohallucination

Answer 3

• Auditory Hallucinations have a clear voice and usually the same voice over and over again, coming from “outside” your head - SCHIZOPHRENIA
• Pseudohallucinations - voices not very clear, different or multiple voices and pt feels like they’re coming from inside their head - DEPRESSION, PERSONALITY DISORDER

Question 4

What is Charles Bonnet Syndrome?

Answer 4

• Persistent or recurrent complex hallucinations (usually visual or auditory), occurring in clear consciousness. This is generally against a background of visual impairment (although not mandatory). Insight is usually preserved.
• commonly a/w ARMD, cataracts and glaucoma
• visual hallucinations might be seeing wild animals, or faces of people etc

Risk factors:
Advanced age
Peripheral visual impairment
Social isolation
Sensory deprivation
Early cognitive impairment

Question 5

What is Cotard syndrome?

Answer 5

Cotard syndrome is a rare mental disorder where the affected patient believes that they (or in some cases just a part of their body) is either dead or non-existent, or rotting from the inside

• associated with severe depression and psychotic disorders

Question 6

What is De Clerambault’s syndrome?

Answer 6

De Clerambault’s syndrome, also known as erotomania, is a form of paranoid delusion with an amorous quality. The patient, often a single woman, believes that a famous person is in love with her.

Question 7

What is Othello’s syndrome?

Answer 7

Othello’s syndrome is pathological jealousy where a person is convinced their partner is cheating on them without any real proof. This is accompanied by socially unacceptable behaviour linked to these claims.