Schizophrenia and Personality Disorders Flashcards
Why is schizophrenia such a complex condition?
It’s characterized by heterogeneity:
- family/personal history
- response to treatment/prognosis
- independence
What is the lifetime prevalence of schizophrenia?
About 1%
When do symptoms first appear? Are there any differences between males and females?
Generally symptoms first appear between 15-45. However, it’s in the early 20s for males and late 20s for females. Males also display symptoms earlier, and people with symptoms earlier have more severe schizophrenia.
How many patients experience recovery?
1 in 7
What are the phases of schizophrenia?
Pre-morbid: largely asymptomatic
Prodromal: “oddness” and subtle negative symptoms (late teens)
Active: active phase with destructive positive symptoms (21-40 years old)
Static/Residual: Static phase, poor social functioning and prominent negative and cognitive symptoms. (>45 years old)
Name and define the two main symptom clusters in schizophrenia.
Positive symptoms: exaggerated, distorted adaptations of normal behaviour.
Negative symptoms: the absence of loss of typical behaviours and experiences
Name and define the positive symptoms of schizophrenia
- hallucinations: misinterpretations of sensory perceptions in the absence of external stimuli
- delusions: implausible beliefs that persist despite reliable contradictory evidence
- disorganized speech and thought disorder: nonsensical and unusual sounding speech, loosening of associations and logical connections, least common of the positive symptoms
Name and define the negative symptoms of schizophrenia
- affective flattening: restricted emotion
- avolition: apathy, lack of goal-directed behaviours
- anhedonia: lack of pleasure or reward
- alogia: restrictions in fluency and productivity of thoughts and speech
- asociality: withdrawal from relationships
