Schizophrenia

Question 1

“Psychosis”

Answer 1

A mental state characterized by profound disturbances in thought (i.e. “losing touch w reality”)

• Is a symptom, NOT its own disorder
• Is paired w many disorders (ex. BPD, Schizophrenia)

Question 2

Schizophrenia (and the 3 types of symptoms)

Answer 2

A mental disorder that is separated into 3 types of symptoms.

1. Positive (Acute) Symptoms:
   Additional experiences that are abnormal (ex. hallucinations) - added things that aren’t good

• Positive symptoms is the psychosis

2. Negative (Chronic) Symptoms:
   Lacking things that should be there but are not, are chronic, lifelong, and consistent.
3. Disorganized symptoms:
   Behaviours, thoughts. that are incoherent and can’t be understood by others

** Not an exhaustive symptom list, and not all individuals will
manifest these symptoms.

Substantial variability in what we
deem schizophrenia.

** considered the worst mental disorder bc of how disruptive it is

Question 3

Positive Schizophrenia Symptoms

Answer 3

Hallucinations: sensory experiences w/o a clear stimulus.

Delusions: beliefs maintained despite improbable
(impossible) nature, even when demonstrably false.

• Previously defined as “fixed, false, and problematic beliefs.”

What issues w/ that definition?
* Sometimes false beliefs are not delusional.
* Sometimes fixed beliefs are not provable.
* Not all problematic beliefs are false.

Question 4

Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Answer 4

Deficits in affective and emotional
realm

• Blunted Affect, reduction in a persons emotional response
• Anhedonia, an inability to experience pleasure
• Asociality, withdrawing from the social world
• Avolition, a severe lack of motivation or ability to complete important tasks/achieve goals

** A person does not have to experience all of these things

Question 5

Schizophrenia Disorganized symptoms

Answer 5

Cognitive disturbances, disorganized speech, bizarre motor behaviour.