Schizophrenia And Psychosis

Question 1

Give some causes for organic psychosis.

Answer 1

Delirium 
Hyperthyroidism 
Iatrogenic (steroids, L-dopa) 
Drug/ alcohol intoxication 
Encephalitis
Hypercalcaemia
Cerebral lupus 
Post-ictal psychosis

Question 2

Give 5 positive symptoms of schizophrenia.

Give 3 negative symptoms.

Answer 2

Delusions
Hallucinations 
Disorganised speech
Disorganised behaviour 
Catatonic behaviour 

Flat affect
Alogia
Avolition

Question 3

Give the 5 first rank symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 3

Somatic hallucinations
Passivity experience
Delusional perceptions 
Auditory hallucinations
Thought broadcast,insertion, withdrawal

Question 4

What is a passivity experience?

Answer 4

Belief that ones thoughts are being controlled by an external agent

Question 5

Distinguish between paranoid and hebphrenic schizophrenia.

Answer 5

Paranoid - persecutory delusions and mainly auditory hallucinations dominate whereas in hebphrenic disorganised behaviour dominates

Question 6

Why can clozapine be used as an example for why other NTs are involved in Pathophysiology of schizophrenia?

Drawback for using clozapine?

Answer 6

Because it is only a weak anti-dopaminergic at D2 receptors yet is the most affective.

More side effects

Question 7

What are some anatomical abnormalities seen in schizophrenia patients?

Answer 7

Enlarged ventricles
Reduced size in medial temporal love structures (hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, amygdala)
Reduced pre-frontal cortex

Question 8

Which pathway is overactive and which one is underactive and which receptors are involved in each?

Which one is associated with the negative symptoms?

Answer 8

Overactivity of mesolimbic (D2)
Underactivity of mesocortical (D1)

Mesocortical underactivity

Question 9

Give some reasons for poor prognosis in schizophrenia patients.

Answer 9

Suicide
Substance misuse
Violent incidents
Higher CVS, respiratory disease and cancer risk