Schizophrenia Flashcards
define schizophrenia
it is a type of psychosis, a severe mental disorder in which thoughts and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality
define hallucinations
bizarre beliefs that seem real to the person with schizophrenia, but the are not real
define speech poverty
lessening of speech fluency and productivity, reflecting slow or blocked thoughts
define hallucinations
bizarre, unreal perceptions of the environment hat are usually auditory but may be visual, olfactory or tactile
define avolition
the reduction of, or inability to initiate and persist in, goal orientated behaviour
define reliability
the CONSISTENCY of a measuring tool or other tests used in a diagnosis
(a test / tool must be valid for it to be reliable)
define validity
the extent to which the classification of schizophrenia is a true reflection of the illness the patient is suffering from, thus focusing on how accurate and measurable it is
define symptom overlap
when two or more disorders share some of the symptoms needed for classification
define co-morbidity
this is the presence of two different disorders at the same time
define gender bias in relation to schizophrenia
gender bias may prevent schizophrenia from being valid because diagnostic criteria and interpretations often reflect stereotypical male experiences, leading to misdiagnosis in females whose symptoms may be presented differently
define polygenic in relation to schizophrenia
many genes contribute to the development of schizophrenia - each gene may contribute to an increased risk of developing schizophrenia by a tiny amount
give examples of candidate genes that seem to be involved with schizophrenia
PCMI
PPP3CC
NRG-1
define the dopamine hypothesis
theory that suggests an excess of dopamine activity in certain brain areas is associated with the development and symptoms of schizophrenia
define neural correlates
are measurements of the structure or function of the brain that occur in conjunction with an experience in this case schizophrenia
define typical antipsychotics
these primarily target dopamine receptors and are effective against positive symptoms like hallucinations but may cause movement-related side effects.
define atypical antipsychotics
these also affect serotonin receptors, which can result in fewer movement-related side effects and better control of negative symptoms, such as withdrawal or lack of motivation.
briefly explain family dysfunction and give the 3 examples
explanations of family dysfunction claim that schizophrenia is caused by abnormal patters of communication within the family and living with a dysfunctional family
3 examples:
schizophrenogenic mother
double bind theory
expressed emotion
define dysfunctional thought processing and give two examples of it
Dysfunctional thought processing refers to patterns of thinking that are distorted, irrational, or maladaptive, often leading to negative emotions or behaviours
2 examples:
metarepresentation leads to hallucinations
central control dysfunction leads to speech poverty
define cognitive behaviour therapy
Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and changing negative or dysfunctional thought patterns and behaviours
define expressed emotion in relation to schizophrenia
Expressed emotion is a psychological concept used to describe the family and social environment of individuals with mental health conditions, particularly schizophrenia.
It refers to the attitudes and behaviours displayed by family members or caregivers toward the individual, which can significantly influence the course of the illness.
define primary reinforcers in token economy
rewards that directly satisfy a biological or social need eg films, magazines, sweets etc
define secondary reinforcers in token economy
rewards that have no inherent value but gain meaning through association with priamry reinforcers
eg. get a token for good behaviour and then after you get 5 you can exchange them for a rewards
define the diathesis stress model
The diathesis-stress model is a psychological framework used to explain how mental health disorders develop.
It suggests that disorders result from the interaction between an individual’s biological or psychological vulnerabilities and environmental or life stressors
briefly explain the importance of an interactionist approach in explaining and treating schizophrenia
The interactionist approach is crucial in understanding and treating schizophrenia because it integrates both biological and psychological factors.
It acknowledges that schizophrenia is not caused by any single factor, but rather by the complex interplay between genetic vulnerabilities, neurochemical imbalances, and environmental or social stressors.
