Psychotic Disorders

Question 1

Describe Schizophrenia & Criteria

Answer 1

2 or more of (one of which must be 1, 2, or 3):

1. Delusions.
2. Hallucinations.
3. Disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence).
4. Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior.
5. Negative symptoms (i.e., diminished emotional expression or avolition).

Level of functioning in a major area (work, relationships, etc) significantly below where it was prior to onset.

Persistent for at least 6 months

Rule out Schizoaffective disorder and depressive or bipolar disorder with psychotic features due to 1) no depressive & manic episodes concurrent with active-phase symptoms. Mood episodes minority of time of active phase symptoms.

Positive symptoms (what is there but shouldn't): hearing voices, delusions, hallucinations.
Negative symptoms (what isnt there but should be): affective flattening, avolition, alogia, anhedonia.
Disorganization symptoms: disorganized thought.

Question 2

Delusional Disorder - How different from Schizophrenia?

Answer 2

Presence of well formed delusions, but a well preserved personality - behavior not odd or bizarre apart from the delusion and its ramifications. Active phase symptoms of schizophrenia are absent.

Specify type of delusion.

Question 3

Brief Psychotic Disorder

Answer 3

Psychotic symptoms that last more than a day but less than a month. Similar symptoms as schizophrenia.

Question 4

Schizophreniform Disorder difference from Schizophrenia

Answer 4

Same as schizophrenia but less than 6 months.

Question 5

Describe Schizoaffective Disorder and Criteria

Answer 5

Mixture of psychotic and mood symptoms. In short, the presence of a manic or depressed episode along with psychotic symptoms.

During the illness, hallucinations or delusions must be present for 2 weeks or more in the absence of prominent mood symptoms, but mood symptoms must be present for a majority of the total duration of the illness.

A. An uninterrupted period of illness during which there is a major mood episode
(major depressive or manic) concurrent with Criterion A of schizophrenia.
Note: The major depressive episode must include Criterion A1: Depressed mood.
B. Delusions or hallucinations for 2 or more weeks in the absence of a major mood episode during the duration of the illness.
C. Symptoms that meet criteria for a major mood episode are present for
the majority of the total duration of the active and residual portions of the
illness.
D. Not due to substance