Schizophrenia

Question 1

what is a delusion?

Answer 1

This is a false belief held by a person or individual and is not part of the persons culture, and cannot be controverted despite contrary evidence

Question 2

What are the different Types of Delusions?

Answer 2

i. Erotomania: a delusion in which a person (typically a woman) believes that another person (typically of higher social status) is in love with them.

ii. Delusions of Grandeur: a strongly held belief that you are someone with special abilities and powers, eg: you believe that you are a superhero

iii. Delusions of Reference: a strong belief that events in the environment are related to you for example, the belief that a television programme is talking about you

iv). believing that people are always speaking about you

v) Nihilistic: false belief that they exist as aliens (exist in shadows, ghosts, etc.)

vi) Persecutory delusion: a strongly held belief that you are in danger, that you are being conspired against, and that others are pursuing you to try to do you harm

Question 3

What is an hallucination?

Answer 3

• False perception held by an individual that is not part of their culture and cannot be controverted despite contrary evidence. They mainly affect the senses.

Question 4

Types Of hallucinations

Answer 4

• Visual hallucinations: false visual perceptions
• Auditory hallucinations:
• Gustatory hallucinations: taste * Olfactory: smell
• Tactile hallucinations: sense of touch
  Hallucinations of the visceral

Question 5

What are negative symptoms?

Answer 5

Flattening of Emotions
Anhedonia Avolition: lack of motivation
Inappropriate emotions

Question 6

Biological (Genetic) Explanationsof Schizophrenia

Answer 6

Twin studies: MZ Twins (100% DNA) and DZ Twins (100% DNA)
Adoption Studies: helps seperate the influence of genetics and the environment.

Question 7

Biological (Biochemical) Explanation

Answer 7

Dopamine Hypothesis: States those with schizophrenia produce more dopamine than those without

Drug Trials
Post-Moterm Studies
PET Scans

Question 8

Cognitive Explanations

Answer 8

Frith:

Abnormality in self monitoring. appply logic to their hallucinations making them believe they are from external source

Question 9

Biological treatments

Answer 9

Typical Anti-psychotics:
1st Gen 1950’s. reduce dopamine (dopamine antagonists) effects but have severe side effects (tardive dyskineasia)

Atypical anti-psychotics:

2nd gen 1990’s. less side effects but lose their effect in a shorter time

ECT: Passses electricity through thr brain to cause a seizure

Question 10

Psychological Treatments

Answer 10

CBT: talk therapy that disputes irrational thoughts
mostly used alongside anti-psychotics