schizophrenia

Question 1

define schizophrenia

Answer 1

group of psychotic disorders that are characterised by a loss of contact with reality

Question 2

features of schizophrenia

Answer 2

• prevalence rate of 1%
• typically begins in late teens or early 20s
• episodic illness- period of psychotic disorders as well as normal functioning
• starts with low mood or anxiety, and active phase follows with specific symptoms
• psychotic episodes can last from 1-6 months to a year
• 2/3 make substantial progress
• can be acute (sudden) or chronic (gradual)

Question 3

define positive symptoms

Answer 3

reflects an excess of distortion of normal functions

Question 4

positive symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 4

• hallucinations- perceptual disturbances, including auditory and visual
• delusions- believing things aren’t true
  -disorganised speech- echolalia, nonsense of gibberish

Question 5

define negative symptoms

Answer 5

reduction or loss of normal functions

Question 6

negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 6

• speech poverty/alogia- reduction in quality and amount of speech
• avolition- lack of desire or motivation for anything
• affective flattening- loss of expression and emotional response, unexpected emotions
• anhedonia- lack of pleasure seeking behaviours
• catatonic behaviour- affect a persons ability to speak, move or respond to their environment, motionless, frantic movements

Question 7

diagnosis of schizophrenia

Answer 7

• DSM states they must show at least two of delusions, hallucinations, disorganised speech, catatonic behaviour or any negative symptoms- one from the first 3
• must be present for at least 6 months
• subtypes are not recognised in DSM-V- paranoid, disorganised or catatonic

Question 8

how are mental disorders diagnosed

Answer 8

• DSM 5 is the american manual used to classify and describe over 200 disorders
• ICD 100 is used in Europe