Schizophrenia

Question 1

Average onset age for a schizophrenic patient?

Answer 1

15-25 years old

Question 2

Most unusual component of the mental status examination in a schizophrenic patient?

Answer 2

Thought process and content

Question 3

Psychotic/Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia?

Answer 3

Hallucinations (disturbed perceptions)
Delusions (disturbed thought content)
Disorganization

Question 4

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 4

Restricted/Inappropriate Affect
Avolition
Alogia

Question 5

What is Avolition?

Answer 5

Lack of motivation

Question 6

What is alogia?

Answer 6

Paucity of speech/volume

Question 7

What is akathisia?

Answer 7

Constant restless/drive to be moving around

Question 8

Signs of cognitive impairment seen in schizophrenia?

Answer 8

Problems with attention, information processing, and verbal memory

Lack of insight

Question 9

DSM Criteria for Schizophrenia?

Answer 9

At least two symptoms of schizophrenia, interpersonal/psychosocial dysfunction for at least 6 months. Not caused by another illness or drug abuse.

Question 10

DSM symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 10

Delusions
Hallucinations
Disorganized Speech
Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
Negative symptoms (Affective flattening, avoltion, alogia)

Question 11

What are clang associations?

Answer 11

In schizophrenic patients, they sometimes will put together words based on rhyming/alliteration rather than actual meaning

Question 12

What physical symptoms are seen in schizophrenic patients

Answer 12

accelerated brain gray matter loss in early onset

Question 13

Why is early diagnosis an important treatment goal

Answer 13

The longer symptoms are untreated, the more difficulty with reaching remission, residual symptoms.

Question 14

Effect of schizophrenia on mortality?

Answer 14

Up to a 20% reduction in life expectancy compared to the general population.

Question 15

Top four conditions commonly comorbid with schizophrenia.

Answer 15

Emphysema
Chronic Bronchitis
Asthma
Liver Problems

(Commonly suffer substance abuse problems)

Question 16

What tends to kill schizophrenia patients.

Answer 16

Increased morbidity for almost everything, but CV diseases tend to be the most common.

Question 17

What is the downward drift hypothesis?

Answer 17

Individuals with schizophrenia enter into (or fail to rise out of) a lower socioeconomic group as a direct result of the illness.

Question 18

How might the symptoms of schizophrenia serve as a barrier to recovery?

Answer 18

May be socially isolated, unaware of resources, struggle to understand the system, or struggle to communicate needs to health care providers.

Question 19

How might the negative symptoms of schizophrenia influence the presentation of the patient?

Answer 19

low motivation of participate in health promoting activities

failure to complete basic self-care needs (hygiene)

Question 20

Difference between the medical and recovery models of treatment.

Answer 20

Medical Model – Relieve symptoms to cure disease

Recovery Model – Relieve symptoms to improve function

Question 21

Ways to provide psychosocial rehabilitation of a schizophrenia patient?

Answer 21

Supportive housing options
Vocational rehabilitation
Independent living skills training
Social Skills Training
Symptom Management
Recreation opportunities

Question 22

How do 1st gen antipsychotics work? Two most commonly used first generation antipsychotics?

Answer 22

Dopamine antagonists (make you look Parkinsonian)
Prolixin (fluphenazine) and Haldol (Haloperidol)

Question 23

What are 2nd generation antipsychotics? Give two examples.

Answer 23

1st gen + serotonin component to diminish anti-pyramidal effects
Clozaril (clozapine) and Abilify (Aripiprazole)