Schizophrenia

Question 1

Describe the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia

Answer 1

A) 2 + during 1 month:
- delusions
- hallucinations
- disorganised speech
- negative symtoms
- grossly disorganised or catatonic behaviour
B) Social Occupational dysfunction
C) Duration (6+ months)
D) Schizoaffective + mood disorder exclusion!
E) Relationship to Autism + communication disorder exclusion

Question 2

Define a delusion

Answer 2

A false belief, based on incorrect inference of external reality, not consistent with persons intellect or culture

• Persecution
• reference
• grandeur
• somatic
• nihilistic
• erotomantic

Question 3

Contrast type 1 and type 2 schizophrenia

Answer 3

Type 1: Sudden onset, normal intellect, no brain damage, no neg symptoms, good drug response
Type 2: slower onset, intellectual deterioration, brain abnormalities, neg symptoms, poor drug response

Question 4

____% of patients with schizophrenia are able to lead normal lifes, ____% experience moderate symptoms, and ____% are significantly impaired

Answer 4

20-30%, 20-30%, 40-60%

Question 5

Describe schizophreniform disorder

Answer 5

• more than 1, less than 6 months

- impaired social occupational functioning not required

Question 6

Describe Schizoaffective disorder

Answer 6

• symptoms on boundary of schizophrenia and mood disorder
• mood disturbance + cirt A of Schizo
• 2 weeks of delusions/hallucinations without mood disorder

Question 7

Describe delusional disorder

Answer 7

1 or more delusions, and never met criteria A

Question 8

Describe brief psychotic disorder

Answer 8

Sudden onset of at least 1 (delusions/hallucinations/catatonic/disorganised)
At least 1 day, less than 1 month, + full return to premorbid functioning

Question 9

Describe the dopamine hypothesis for schizophrenia

Answer 9

High levels of dopamine cause symptoms of disordered thought and behaviour, and medication treatments such as neurocleptic’s reduce dopamine levels, but have side effects of tremors and stiffness i.e. opposite to Parkinson’s
Probs: Schizo drugs treat other disorders, clozapine blocks serotonin receptors

Question 10

Describe the behavioural view of schizophrenia

Answer 10

• inattention to social cues leads to bizarre responses to environment
• acquisition of bizarre behaviours due to operant conditioning
• appropriate reactions can be learned by ignoring bizarre behaviours and reinforcing normal behaviours
  fails to account for origins of various symptoms of schizo

Question 11

Describe the stress-diathesis model of schizophrenia

Answer 11

Stressors - physical trauma, psychological stressors, environmental hazards (urban living, poverty), family with high EE
Diatheses - Genetic factors, physical trauma, biological abnormalities (brain structure, neurotransmitters), psychosis prone personality