Schizophrenia Flashcards
What is schizophrenia?
The most common form a psychosis
A mental disorder in which the thoughts, affective response or ability to recognise reality, and the ability to communicate and
relate to others, are sufficiently impaired to interfere grossly with the capacity to deal with reality
What are some causes of psychosis?
Dementia praecox - Schizophrenia and paranoid illnesses
Manic depressive psychosis - Depression and bipolar disorder
Organic conditions - Delirium, dementias and strokes
Substance use - Acute intoxication, withdrawal, delirium tremens
What is schizoaffective disorder?
Schizoaffective disordercombines the symptoms of schizophrenia withbipolar disorder. Patients havepsychosisand symptoms ofdepressionandmania.
What is schizophreniform disorder?
Schizophreniform disorderpresents with the same features as schizophrenia but lastsless than six months.
What is “ideas (Delusions) of reference”
Innocuous or coincidental events will be ascribed significant meaning by the person
What are some examples of “Ideas of reference”
- Thinking that there are really messages in the newspaper about them
- Believing that the news report on the TV is commenting on their life or talking directly to them
- Seeing that objects or events have been arranged so as to specifically convey a hidden meaning to them
- Knowing that people’s conversations or social media postings are about them
- Believing that a radio station is broadcasting songs in such a way as to tell you something
- Seeing meaning in other peoples gestures
What are some factors that increase risk of schizophrenia?
Genetic factors (78% heritability) - Polygenic
Environmental factors
What are some gene alterations thought to be involved in schizophrenia?
- Neuregulin - a sigalling protein that mediates cell-cell interactions and plays critial roles in the growth and development of multiple organ systems
- Dysbindin - essential for adaptive neural plasticity
- DISC-1 - involved in neurite outgrowth and cortical development through its interaction with other proteins
What are some environmental risk factors for schizophrenia?
- 2nd trimester viral illness
- Obstetric problems
- Childhood CNS infection
- Substance misuse
- Urban dwelling
- Social adversity or deprivation
- Neurodevelopmental changes
- Neurochemical signalling changes
What are some obstetric problems that can increase risk of schizophrenia?
Pre-eclampsia
Foetal hypoxia
Emergency Caesarian section
What are some substances that increase risk of psychosis?
- Amphetamines
- Cocaine
- Cannabis
- Novel psychoactive substances (‘legal highs’)
What is the ICD-11 criteria for schizophrenia diagnosis?
At least 2 of the following symptoms must be present (By the individuals report or through observation) most of the time for a period of 1 month or more
1 of these must be a major symptom
What are the 4 major criteria for schizophrenia diagnosis?
- Persistent delusions
- Persistent hallucinations
- Formal thought disorder
- Experiences of influence, passivity or control
What are the 3 minor criteria for schizophrenia diagnosis?
- Negative symptoms (E.g. asociality, anhedonia, amotivation, anergia)
- Grossly disorganised behaviour that impedes goal-directed activity
- Psychomotor disturbance such as catatonic restlessness, agitation, posturing, waxy flexibility, negativism, mutism or stupor
What is catatonia?
This is a state in which a person is awake, but does not respond to their environment
