Schizophrenia

Question 1

What are the subtypes of schizophrenia?

Answer 1

Paranoid, catatonic, disorganized, undifferentiated, and residual

Question 2

What types of behavior characterizes schizophrenia?

Answer 2

Hallucinations, delusions, behavioral disturbances, disrupted social functioning

Question 3

What is the prevalence of schizophrenia in the US?

Answer 3

1% of the population

Question 4

Symptoms of schizophrenia must be present continuously for how long to achieve the official diagnosis?

Answer 4

6 months

Question 5

What are the “active” symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 5

Hallucinations and delusions

Question 6

What is the difference between positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 6

Positive ones are ADDITIONS to normal thought; negative ones are a LACK thereof or a DEFICIT of behavior

Question 7

Are disorganized thinking, hallucinations, inappropriate affect, and delusions are example of positive or negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 7

Positive

Question 8

Are avolition, flat affect, decreased emotional reactivity, and alogia examples of positive or negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 8

Negative

Question 9

What is the usual age of onset for schizophrenia in both genders?

Answer 9

Males - 18

Women - 25

Question 10

Why is life expectancy shorter among those with schizophrenia?

Answer 10

40% attempt suicide (10-20% successfully)

Question 11

Is schizophrenia hereditary?

Answer 11

Yes but not sufficient to cause it alone without other factors

Question 12

If you have a full sibling with schizophrenia, what is the chance you will develop it, as well?

Answer 12

10%

Question 13

If you have a parent with schizophrenia, what is the chance you will develop it, as well?

Answer 13

13%

Question 14

If you have an identical twin with schizophrenia, what is the chance you will develop it, as well?

Answer 14

42%

Question 15

If you have two parents with schizophrenia, what is the chance you will develop it, as well?

Answer 15

46%

Question 16

Which gender tends to have more severe schizophrenic symptoms?

Answer 16

Males

Question 17

Which gender tends to develop schizophrenia later in life?

Answer 17

Females

Question 18

Changes in which specific hormones are commonly seen in patients with schizophrenia?

Answer 18

Prolactin, melatonin, thyroid

Question 19

There is a large hypothesis that excess of which specific neurotransmitter in the CNS is central to the development of schizophrenic like symptoms?

Answer 19

Dopamine

Question 20

Is there any sort of pathognomonic lesion associated with schizophrenia?

Answer 20

No

Question 21

CT, MRI, and autopsies have found changes in which areas of the brain?

Answer 21

Frontal, temporal, limbic, and basal ganglia areas

Question 22

Has a particular virus been linked to schizophrenia?

Answer 22

No (but maybe perinatal viral infections?)

Question 23

Changes to what parts of the immune system have been seen with schizophrenia?

Answer 23

IgG, IgA, and IgM

Question 24

Can psychosocial factors cause schizophrenia? What kind of impact can they have on the disease?

Answer 24

Cannot CAUSE it but do play a role in the course of the illness

Question 25

What characterizes delusional disorder?

Answer 25

At least 1 month of non-bizarre delusions without other active-phase symptoms of schizophrenia

Question 26

What characterizes a brief psychotic disorder?

Answer 26

Psychotic disorder that lasts more than 1 day and remits by 1 month

Question 27

What 2 criteria differentiate schizophreniform disorder from schizophrenia?

Answer 27

DURATION (at least 1 month but less than 6 months) and does not necessarily impair social/occupational functioning

Question 28

What is a shared psychotic disorder?

Answer 28

A disturbance that develops in an individual who is influenced by someone else who has an established delusion with similar content

Question 29

What are the 2 components of schizoaffective disorder?

Answer 29

Symptoms of schizophrenia with a major affective disorder like major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder

Question 30

What is the treatment for schizophrenia?

Answer 30

Drug therapy, psychotherapy (in and out patient), family therapy, social skills training, vocational rehab

Question 31

Were the antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia in the 90s more effective for positive or negative symptoms?

Answer 31

Positive

Question 32

Are newer antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia more effective for positive or negative symptoms?

Answer 32

Both

Question 33

What are some common antipsychotics used against schizophrenia?

Answer 33

Clozaril, Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel, and Geodon

Question 34

Today's antipsychotics have fewer side effects, but what are the ones that are still common/possible?

Answer 34

Tardive dyskinesia, seizures, reduced WBC count