Schizophrenia Flashcards
What are the subtypes of schizophrenia?
Paranoid, catatonic, disorganized, undifferentiated, and residual
What types of behavior characterizes schizophrenia?
Hallucinations, delusions, behavioral disturbances, disrupted social functioning
What is the prevalence of schizophrenia in the US?
1% of the population
Symptoms of schizophrenia must be present continuously for how long to achieve the official diagnosis?
6 months
What are the “active” symptoms of schizophrenia?
Hallucinations and delusions
What is the difference between positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
Positive ones are ADDITIONS to normal thought; negative ones are a LACK thereof or a DEFICIT of behavior
Are disorganized thinking, hallucinations, inappropriate affect, and delusions are example of positive or negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
Positive
Are avolition, flat affect, decreased emotional reactivity, and alogia examples of positive or negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
Negative
What is the usual age of onset for schizophrenia in both genders?
Males - 18
Women - 25
Why is life expectancy shorter among those with schizophrenia?
40% attempt suicide (10-20% successfully)
Is schizophrenia hereditary?
Yes but not sufficient to cause it alone without other factors
If you have a full sibling with schizophrenia, what is the chance you will develop it, as well?
10%
If you have a parent with schizophrenia, what is the chance you will develop it, as well?
13%
If you have an identical twin with schizophrenia, what is the chance you will develop it, as well?
42%
If you have two parents with schizophrenia, what is the chance you will develop it, as well?
46%
Which gender tends to have more severe schizophrenic symptoms?
Males
Which gender tends to develop schizophrenia later in life?
Females
Changes in which specific hormones are commonly seen in patients with schizophrenia?
Prolactin, melatonin, thyroid
There is a large hypothesis that excess of which specific neurotransmitter in the CNS is central to the development of schizophrenic like symptoms?
Dopamine
Is there any sort of pathognomonic lesion associated with schizophrenia?
No
CT, MRI, and autopsies have found changes in which areas of the brain?
Frontal, temporal, limbic, and basal ganglia areas
Has a particular virus been linked to schizophrenia?
No (but maybe perinatal viral infections?)
Changes to what parts of the immune system have been seen with schizophrenia?
IgG, IgA, and IgM
Can psychosocial factors cause schizophrenia? What kind of impact can they have on the disease?
Cannot CAUSE it but do play a role in the course of the illness
What characterizes delusional disorder?
At least 1 month of non-bizarre delusions without other active-phase symptoms of schizophrenia
What characterizes a brief psychotic disorder?
Psychotic disorder that lasts more than 1 day and remits by 1 month
What 2 criteria differentiate schizophreniform disorder from schizophrenia?
DURATION (at least 1 month but less than 6 months) and does not necessarily impair social/occupational functioning
What is a shared psychotic disorder?
A disturbance that develops in an individual who is influenced by someone else who has an established delusion with similar content
What are the 2 components of schizoaffective disorder?
Symptoms of schizophrenia with a major affective disorder like major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder
What is the treatment for schizophrenia?
Drug therapy, psychotherapy (in and out patient), family therapy, social skills training, vocational rehab
Were the antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia in the 90s more effective for positive or negative symptoms?
Positive
Are newer antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia more effective for positive or negative symptoms?
Both
What are some common antipsychotics used against schizophrenia?
Clozaril, Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel, and Geodon
Today’s antipsychotics have fewer side effects, but what are the ones that are still common/possible?
Tardive dyskinesia, seizures, reduced WBC count
