Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Year 2 Foundations in Clinical Practice 1 > Psychosis and Schizophrenia > Flashcards

Psychosis and Schizophrenia Flashcards

1
Q

What is psychosis?

A

Altered perception of reality. the person has difficulty distinguishing reality from what is not real

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the most common cause of psychosis?

A

Schizophrenia.

the most important symptoms of psychosis are hallucinations and delusions

a serious mental health condition that affects how people think, feel and behave.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

List some other conditions that can cause psychosis.

A
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Severe depression
  • Drug or alcohol abuse
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are hallucinations?

A

Sensory experiences in the absence of external stimuli. A perception of having seen, heard, touched, tasted or smelled something that wasn’t actually there.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are delusions?

A

Unsubstantiated(not supported or proven by evidence) beliefs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What percentage of people diagnosed with schizophrenia experience hallucinations?

A

Over 60%.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the most common type of hallucination?

A

Auditory hallucinations, so for example hearing voices…etc

very real to people

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

symptoms of schozphrenia are characterised into 2 , name them

A

positive and negative

symptoms could be cognitive as well, meaning they impair the mental capacity or abilities of the subject

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are positive symptoms in schizophrenia?

A

they are Active, noticeable behaviours not present in normal or healthy subjects.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are negative symptoms in schizophrenia?

A

refers to the Absence or lessening of behaviours that are normally present in a healthy subject.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

List some positive symptoms of schizophrenia.

A
  • Delusions
  • Hallucinations
  • Distortion of language
  • Disorganised speech + behaviour
  • Catatonic behaviour
  • Agitation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

List some negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

A
  • Blunted affect
  • Emotional + social withdrawal
  • Avolition (lack of desire)
  • Alogia (lack of speech)
  • Anhedonia (loss of joy)
  • Poor rapport, passivity
  • Stereotyped thinking
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is paranoia?

A

Irrational belief or perception that others wish to cause harm. may be associated with delusions or auditory
hallucinations related to a theme that somebody is persecuting or
harassing them

this and inappropriate effect(the extent to which a person’s emotional xpressiveness fails to correspond to the content of what is being discussed) are some other feathers of schizophrenia.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What characterizes disorganized schizophrenia?

A

Disorganized speech, behaviour, and flat or inappropriate affect.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is catatonic schizophrenia?

A

Motoric immobility or excessive activity, extreme negativism, peculiar movements.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the typical onset age range for schizophrenia?

A

18-24 years.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What percentage of schizophrenia patients attempt suicide?

A

25-50%.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

True or False: Psychosis is more prevalent in urban areas than rural areas.

A

True.

due to a combination of social stressors associated with city life, including high population density, social fragmentation, socioeconomic deprivation, limited access to green spaces, increased noise pollution, and exposure to environmental pollutants, which can all contribute to increased psychological stress and potentially trigger psychotic symptoms in individuals with a genetic predisposition to psychosis.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are some environmental factors that can increase the risk of developing psychosis?

A
  • Stressful life events
  • Drug abuse
  • Viral infections
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the neurodevelopmental hypothesis regarding schizophrenia?

A

The disease is due to a malfunction in the development of the brain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is the neurodegenerative hypothesis regarding schizophrenia?

A

Ongoing neurodegenerative processes with loss of neuronal function during the disease course.

22
Q

List some prenatal risk factors for schizophrenia.

A
  • Maternal rubella
  • Genital/reproductive infection
  • Folic acid deficiency
  • Iron depletion
  • Maternal deprivation
23
Q

What is the main neurotransmitter traditionally linked to psychosis?

A

Dopamine.

24
Q

What are the two main types of antipsychotic drugs?

A
  • 1st generation (typical antipsychotics)
  • 2nd generation (atypical antipsychotics)
25
Q

How do 1st generation antipsychotics primarily work?

A

By blocking dopamine D2 receptors in the CNS.

26
Q

What is a common side effect of D2 receptor blockade in antipsychotic treatment?

A

Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS).

27
Q

What percentage of neurons in the striatum are large cholinergic interneurons?

A

2-3%.

28
Q

What is the role of anticholinergic agents in treating motor side effects of antipsychotics?

A

They alleviate motor side effects.

29
Q

What is galactorrhea?

A

Spontaneous breast milk production.

30
Q

Fill in the blank: The average treatment lag from onset of symptoms to onset of treatment is _______.

A

one year.

31
Q

What are common side effects of antipsychotic medications?

A

Dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, cognitive impairment, weight gain, drowsiness, sedation, sexual/fertility dysfunction

Many patients discontinue treatments due to these side effects.

32
Q

What is the action of 5-HT2A receptors in schizophrenia?

A

5-HT2A receptors are dopamine brakes, regulating dopamine release

5-HT1A acts as a dopamine accelerator.

33
Q

True or False: Atypical antipsychotics primarily act on dopamine D2 receptors.

A

True

They also have relatively high affinity for 5-HT2A receptors.

34
Q

What distinguishes atypical antipsychotics from typical antipsychotics?

A

Atypical antipsychotics antagonize both 5-HT2A and D2 receptors, with improved efficacy in treating negative and cognitive symptoms

They also have a low propensity to cause acute extrapyramidal side effects.

35
Q

Fill in the blank: A common side effect of typical antipsychotics is _______.

A

extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)

36
Q

What is the role of glutamate in schizophrenia?

A

Glutamate dysfunction may relate to altered migration, synaptic organization, and cell survival

Both underactivation and overactivation can lead to significant neurological issues.

37
Q

What is a significant finding regarding NMDA receptors in schizophrenia?

A

Deficits in NMDA receptor function are associated with dopamine dysregulation

NMDA receptor antagonists can induce schizophrenia-like symptoms.

38
Q

What is the hypo-glutamatergic hypothesis?

A

It suggests that NMDA receptor hypoactivation leads to neurotoxicity and cognitive disruption

This affects GABAergic, serotonergic, and noradrenergic neurons.

39
Q

What should be monitored when prescribing clozapine?

A

Agranulocytosis (severe leukopenia)

Clozapine is indicated for suicidality in schizophrenia.

40
Q

What is the therapeutic effect occupancy level for D2 receptors with antipsychotic drugs?

A

About 80% occupancy

This suggests that secondary effects may be more important than direct D2 receptor block.

41
Q

What are potential non-pharmacological treatments for schizophrenia?

A

Cognitive behavioral therapy, electroconvulsive therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy is suitable for all patients, while electroconvulsive therapy is controversial.

42
Q

What are the pharmacological guidelines for starting antipsychotic treatment?

A

Start low and titrate up, change medication after 4-6 weeks, avoid loading doses

Combination therapies should not be initiated except when changing medications.

43
Q

What is the impact of 5-HT1A receptor partial agonism in second-generation antipsychotics?

A

Possibly protects from weight gain

Examples include Ziprasidone and Aripiprazole.

44
Q

What is a key characteristic of the second-generation antipsychotics?

A

They have a superior and broader spectrum of antipsychotic efficacy compared to classical antipsychotics

They also have minimal elevation of prolactin levels.

45
Q

severe psychiatric diseases are characterised by?

A

Abnormal motor behaviour

Disturbances of the mental state (perception)

Disturbances of emotional state of the individual (e.g. social relationship)
Introduction

46
Q

which parts of the brain are proven to be activated during hallucinations

A

the ones that are activated by actual stimuli such as auditory hallucinations (the primary auditory cortex), the hippocampus, the amygdala and various regions within the frontal lobe

47
Q
A
48
Q

some cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia

A

impairment of;
Speed of Processing
Attention/Vigilance
Working Memory (verbal)
Verbal Learning
Visual Learning
Working Memory (nonverbal)
Social Cognition
Reasoning and Problem Solving

49
Q

the three subtypes of schizophrenia

A

paranoid, disorganised and catatonic schizophrenia

50
Q
A

Year 2 Foundations in Clinical Practice 1 (18 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions