SCHIZOPHRENIA ( CLASSIFICATION OF SCHZ)

Question 1

Define Schizophrenia

Answer 1

Schizophrenia is a type of psychosis , a severe mental disorder in which thoughts and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality.

Question 2

Explain positive symptoms and outline 3 examples

Answer 2

positive symptoms - appear to reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning

Examples:
Hallucinations - distortions or exaggerations of perception in any of the senses but mostly auditory

Delusions - firmly held beliefs caused by distortions of reasoning or misinterpretations of perception or experiences

Disorganised speech - the individual has problems organising his or her thoughts and this shows up in their speech

Question 3

Explain negative symptoms and outline 3 examples

Answer 3

Negative symptoms - symptoms appearing to reflect a reduction or loss of normal functions.

Speech poverty ( alogia) - lessening of speech fluency and productivity , reflecting slowing or blocked thoughts

Avolition - a reduction of interests and desires as well as an inability to initiate and persist in goal-directed behaviour.

Anhedonia - a loss of interest or pleasure in all or almost all activities , or a lack of reactivity to normally pleasurable stimuli.