Schizophrenia Flashcards
What does “positive symptoms” mean?
Positive symptoms are additional symptoms to common-day experiences and not commonly experienced by the general population.
What are the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
- Word salad, disordered thoughts and speech.
- Delusions - a thought or belief that is strongly fixed regardless of significant evidence to the contrary
- Hallucinations - tactile, auditory and visual, olfactory, gustatory
What does “negative symptoms” mean?
More commonly experienced in the general population.
What are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
Social withdrawal, loss of motivation, poverty of speech, low emotional repertoire, inability to engage in self-care
When is the onset of schizophrenia?
Late adolescence, early adulthood. Some speculation is that there are genetic/hereditary causes to schizophrenia, but the most popular hypothesis is stress vulnerability.
What are delusions?
A delusion is a strong belief regardless of significant evidence to the contrary, and these delusions can be paranoid in nature - idea that somebody is under threat or under attack
What are the social disadvantages of schizophrenia?
Because of stigma, fear, and othering, people with schizophrenia experience workplace exclusion, long-term unemployment, and poverty. Many people with schizophrenia are homeless and/or criminalized.
What are the benefits of medication?
Medications can provide relief from positive symptoms, but are far less effective in assisting with negative symptoms. Side effects of medication include weight gain, diabetes, and possible link to lowered life expectancy.
What are the benefits of therapy?
Helps to connect past experiences and current symptoms, while assisting patients in gaining mastery over their symptoms rather than getting rid of them. The focus of therapy is mostly on holistic well-being.
