Schizophrenia

Question 1

What is Psychosis?

Answer 1

A severe form of mental illness involving lack of insight and inability to distinguish between delusion, hallucination, and disordered thinking from reality.

Question 2

What are hallucinations?

Answer 2

Sensory experiences that have the full force and clarity of true perception but occur without external stimulus and are not willed or controlled.

Question 3

What are delusional beliefs?

Answer 3

Ideas held with extraordinary conviction that are out of the social and cultural background, such as grandiose or persecutory delusions.

Question 4

Name three illnesses associated with Psychosis.

Answer 4

• Schizophrenia
• Delirium
• Severe affective disorder

Question 5

What are the positive symptoms of Schizophrenia?

Answer 5

• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Disordered thinking

Question 6

Define Thought insertion.

Answer 6

The belief that someone or something is ‘planting’ thoughts into the patient’s mind against their will.

Question 7

What is Avolition?

Answer 7

A general lack of interest in life, self-care, social activities, and motivation.

Question 8

What are the features of Schizophrenia?

Answer 8

• ≥2 symptoms present most of the time for one month or more
• At least one symptom from specific categories (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, negative symptoms)

Question 9

What is a neologism?

Answer 9

A made-up word or a new meaning given to an existing word that is only apparent to the individual.

Question 10

What is catatonia?

Answer 10

A state where the person may not respond to stimuli and exhibits strange physical behavior.

Question 11

What are the biological factors that can predispose someone to Psychosis?

Answer 11

• Genetics
• Neurochemistry
• Neurological factors

Question 12

What is the Dopamine Hypothesis?

Answer 12

The theory that psychosis is related to mesolimbic hyperdopaminergia and mesocortical hypodopaminergia.

Question 13

What are some psychological factors associated with Psychosis?

Answer 13

• Jung’s Collective Unconscious
• Conrad’s Gestalt Psychology
• Anthropology of the Self

Question 14

Name two differential diagnoses of Psychosis.

Answer 14

• Schizophrenia
• Delirium or Acute Organic Brain Syndrome

Question 15

At least how many symptoms must be present to diagnose Schizophrenia?

Answer 15

At least two symptoms must be present most of the time for a period of one month or more.

Question 16

What is the first-line treatment for first episode of Schizophrenia?

Answer 16

Minimum effective dose of either FGAs or SGAs until remission.

Question 17

What are the second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs)?

Answer 17

• Olanzapine
• Risperidone
• Quetiapine
• Aripiprazole

Question 18

What is clozapine used for?

Answer 18

Treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

Question 19

What are extrapyramidal symptoms (EPSE)?

Answer 19

Side effects related to the use of antipsychotic medications.

Question 20

True or False: Atypical antipsychotics are effective for both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Answer 20

True.

Question 21

Fill in the blank: The patient believes their movements, emotions, or will is being altered; this is referred to as _______.

Answer 21

passivity.

Question 22

What is the maintenance treatment duration after the first episode of Schizophrenia?

Answer 22

At least 18 months.