Schizophrenia And Psychotic Disorder Flashcards
Schizophrenia
A serious mental health condition that affects how people think, feel and behave
Symptoms
- delusions
- unusual motor behavior
- negative symptoms
- hallucinations
- disorganized speech and thinking
Signs and symptoms of schizophrenia
Positive symptoms:
- hallucinations
- delusions
- disorganized speech and thoughts
Negative symptoms:
- anhedonia
- abolition
- blunted affect
Cognitive symptoms:
- memory issues
- inability to process social cues
- impaired sensory perception
Types of schizophrenia
- paranoid schizophrenia
- disorganized schizophrenia
- catatonic schizophrenia
- undifferentiated schizophrenia
- residual schizophrenia
Paranoid schizophrenia
Symptoms include hallucinations and/or delusions
Disorganized schizophrenia
Marked by disorganized speech and behavior
Catatonic schizophrenia
Associated with multiple psychomotor abnormalities and behavioral dysregulation
Undifferentiated schizophrenia
Includes lack of emotional depth and ideation is simple and refers to concrete things
Residual schizophrenia
Recovery phase as severe symptoms usually begin to reduce or fade
Etiology of schizophrenia
- no identified cause
- genetics
- stressful life experiences
- pregnancy and birth issues
- psychoactive drugs
Challenges of schizophrenia
- unable to attend work or school
- money problems and homelessness
- social isolation
- suicide, suicidal thoughts or attempts
Comorbidities of schizophrenia
- depression
- anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder
- substance use disorder
- other health and medical problems (liver/heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes)
Treatments for schizophrenia
Medication:
- antipsychotics
Coordinated Specialty Care:
- mediation
- therapy
- social services
- employment
- education
Psychosocial Therapy:
- manage symptoms
- use coping mechanisms to function
Hospitalization:
- for severe cases
Occupational limitations of schizophrenia
- lower occupational function due to symptoms
- decreased motivation to participate in occupations
- chronic pain
- lack of independence
- increased likelihood of other mental health disorders
Physical limitations
- medication side effects
- poor sleep
- reduced physical activity
Cognitive limitations
- executive functioning
- memory problems
- focus
Social limitation
- isolation
- paranoia
- distrust
- stigma
Emotional limitations
- reduces emotional expression
- emotional detachment
Impact on ADLs/IADLs
- self care
- meal prep
- medication management
Impact on work/education
- compromised attention
- focus
- planning
- communication
Impact on play/leisure
- limited pleasure and enjoyment
- disorganized thinking
Impact on social participation
- isolation
- stigma
- social cues
- limited expression
Analysis of lived experience
- Joshua expressed mental breaks, auditory hallucinations, and seemed extremely victimized
- did not perceive his friends or family members as paying any real attention to his issues
- reported a sense of isolation and irritability to the point where he was hospitalized and refused to take his medication
- his story aligns with research in the progression and typical symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia but also in the stressors it placed on his life
- reported that the voices hold him distressing things that further exacerbated his paranoia and delusions
- struggled with telling reality from the “fiction” created by his own mind which landed
- difficulty with schizophrenia is being aware of their altered mental state, potential breaks from reality, and their relationship with their medication
- in general, the prevailing desire is for them to be on the minimal amount of medication necessary due to antipsychotic medications often having severe side effects
- likely an OT won’t see a schizophrenia patient often and hence the treatment plan will likely need to be novel to deal with their symptoms and personal issues
Takeaways
- schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects how someone perceives and interacts with the world
- “losing touch with reality”
- affects all areas of life and occupation
- symptoms can be extremely severe and debilitating especially if left untreated
