Psychosis definitions

Question 1

What are some negative symptoms?

Answer 1

Poverty of speech
Flat affect
Poor motivation and attention
removal of normal behaviours

Question 2

What are some positive symptoms?

Answer 2

Hallucinations
Delusions
Thought disorder

Question 3

What are delusions of control / passivity?

Answer 3

Subject believes their feelings and actions are being controlled by an external force

Question 4

What is delusional perception?

Answer 4

A normal perception with an attached delusional belief eg belief that the TV is sending a direct message to them

Question 5

What are the 4 main neurochemical pathways involved in psychosis?

Answer 5

Nigrostriatal pathway
Tuberinfundibular pathway
Mesocortical pathway
Mesolimbic pathway

Question 6

What is the nigrostriatal pathway’s involvement in the dopamine hypothesis?

Answer 6

-Stimulation of movement
-Operates at NORMAL levels in schizophrenia
(NIGhttime MOVEMENT is NORMAL for me)

Question 7

What is the tuberoinfundibulnar pathway’s involvement in the dopamine hypothesis?

Answer 7

-In this pathway, dopamine acts as a prolactin inhibitory hormone
-Operates at NORMAL levels in schizophrenia

Question 8

What is the mesocortiyal pathway’s involvement in the dopamine hypothesis?

Answer 8

-Involved in cognition and executive function
-At LOW levels in schizophrenia causing NEGATIVE symptoms
(ME SO COld it makes me feel EXtremely LOW)

Question 9

What is the mesolimbic pathway’s involvement in the dopamine hypothesis?

Answer 9

-Responsible for motivation, emotion and reward
-At HIGH levels in schizophrenia causing POSITIVE symptoms
(ME SO MEmoRable it makes me feel HIGH)