Schizophrenia

Question 1

what is schizophrenia?

Answer 1

• characterised by psychosis.
• It most often presents between ages 15 and 30 and earlier in men than women.
• The symptoms must be present for at least six months before schizophrenia is diagnosed.

Question 2

what is schizoaffective disorder

Answer 2

Schizoaffective disorder combines the symptoms of schizophrenia with bipolar disorder.
Patients have psychosis and symptoms of depression and mania.

Question 3

what are the positive symtpoms of schizophrenia

positive symtpoms- aka the key features of psychosis

Answer 3

• Delusions
• Hallucinations (perceiving things that are not real)- includes 3rd person auditory hallucinations
• Thought disorder (disorganised thoughts causing abnormal speech and behaviour)

Question 4

what are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 4

4 A’s
Affective flattening
Alogia
Anhedonia
Avolition

Question 5

what does affective flattening mean?

Answer 5

(minimal emotional reaction to emotive subjects or events)

Question 6

what does alogia mean?

Answer 6

(“poverty of speech” – reduced speech)

Question 7

what does anhedonia mean?

Answer 7

(lack of interest in activities)

Question 8

what does Avolition mean?

Answer 8

(lack of motivation in working towards goals or completing tasks)

Question 9

how is schizophrenia diagnosed?

Answer 9

symptoms for at least a month
drug screen to rule out substance misuse

Question 10

how is schizophrenia treated?

Answer 10

CBT
Atypical antipsychotics ie Risperidone

Question 11

how are acute episodes of schizophrenia treated?

Answer 11

use sedatives to manage dangerous behaviours