Schizophrenia Flashcards
SCZ epidemiology
1% lifetime prevalence
age of onset is typically adolescence
sexes are equal affected
males have earlier onset and worse prognosis
nearly all brain systems affected
70% of people will require permanent care
Four A’s of SCZ
no meaning in modern diagnosis
associative loosening
affective disturbances
ambivalence
autism
SCZ positive symptoms
delusions
hallucinations
formal thought disorder
hypermotor phenomena
SCZ negative symptoms
affective flattening
alogia: inability to put things together in logical order
avolition: apathy
anhedonia: unsociability
hypomotor phenomena
disorganized SCZ symptoms
disorganization
inappropriate affect
SCZ cataonia
freezing in bizarre positions
malignant catatonia: very rare but acutely life threatening
SCZ diagnosis
mental status exam
neurological and general exam
blood sample
urine drug screening if indicated
neuroimaging
lumbar puncture
diseases that imitate SCZ
frontal glioblastoma
herpes simplex encephalitis
SCZ therapy
mainly D2 antagonists
benzodiazepines for anxiolysis
electroconvulsive therapy: if malignant catatonia or therapy resistance
psychotherapy
sociotherapy
etiology of SCZ
thousands of genes are related to schizophrenia
SCZ genes are preferentially expressed in the upper layers of the cortex
genes often affect neurotransmission
genes can be associated with other various disorders
early environmental risk factors for SCZ
around or before birth
maternal infections in 2nd/3rd trimester
higher risk if born during winter months
obstetrical trauma
intra/peripartal hypoxia
late environmental risk factors for SCZ
adolescence
illicit drugs: specifically THC and amphetamines
urbanicity
migration
