Schizophrenia (definitions)

Question 1

Delusion

Answer 1

A belief which has no basis in reality (positive symptom)

Question 2

Hallucination

Answer 2

A sensory perception which has no basis in/distorts reality (positive symptom)

Question 3

Speech poverty

Answer 3

A reduction in the quality and/or quantity of verbal output (negative symptom)

Question 4

Avolition

Answer 4

The loss of motivation and therefore lowered activity levels (negative symptom)

Question 5

Positive symptom

Answer 5

A symptom experienced in addition to normal, healthy experiences

Question 6

Negative symptom

Answer 6

A symptom which involves the loss of normal, healthy experiences

Question 7

Polygenic

Answer 7

A condition which is affected by multiple different genes

Question 8

Hyperdopaminergia

Answer 8

A high level of dopamine activity in the subcortex, leading to positive symptoms

Question 9

Hypodopaminergia

Answer 9

A low level of dopamine activity in the cortex, leading to negative symptoms

Question 10

Metarepresentation

Answer 10

The ability to distinguish between and understand the actions of yourself and others

Question 11

Central control

Answer 11

The ability to repress automatic responses to stimuli

Question 12

Cognitive neuroscience

Answer 12

The scientific study of the influence of brain structures and neurological symptoms on mental processes

Question 13

Acute stage

Answer 13

The first stage of psychosis ever/after relapse after not having symptoms

Question 14

Maintenance stage

Answer 14

The stable stage in which the goal is to minimise symptoms and improve affected areas of the patient’s life

Question 15

First generation anti-psychotics

Answer 15

The first type of anti-psychotic invented, a.k.a. typical anti-psychotics, which target dopamine receptors e.g. haloperidol

Question 16

Second generation anti-psychotics

Answer 16

The second type of anti-psychotic invented, a.k.a. a-typtical anti-psychotics, which target a range of neurotransmitters e.g.risperidone

Question 17

Dopamine antagonist

Answer 17

A drug which works by blocking dopamine receptors

Question 18

The Cochrane Collaboration

Answer 18

An organisation which conducts reviews of medical trials and is independent of drug companies

Question 19

Neural correlate

Answer 19

A measurement of the structure or function of the brain which is correlated with an experience

Question 20

Normalisation

Answer 20

Empathising with the patient and offering normal instances of their symptoms to make them feel more normal

Question 21

Homework (CBT)

Answer 21

A patient being instructed to collect information or try things out in order to test their beliefs

Question 22

Expressed emotion

Answer 22

The level of negative emotion expressed towards a patient by their carers

Question 23

Family therapy

Answer 23

A psychological therapy carried out with the whole family with the aim of educating, improving communication, and reducing stress

Question 24

Token economies

Answer 24

A behavioural therapy where desirable behaviours are reinforced by the use of tokens, which can then be exchanged for privileges

Question 25

Classification

Answer 25

The process of organising symptoms into categories based on which symptoms cluster together in sufferes

Question 26

False positive (in diagnosis)

Answer 26

When a patient is diagnosed with an illness which they don’t have

Question 27

False negative (in diagnosis)

Answer 27

When a patient is not diagnosed with an illness which they do have

Question 28

Symptom overlap

Answer 28

A problem for diagnosing disorders in which some of the symptoms of one disorder also occur in another disorder

Question 29

Co-morbidity

Answer 29

A problem for diagnosing disorders in which patients have some or all of the symptoms of more than one disorder

Question 30

Family dysfunction

Answer 30

Abnormal processes within the family such as poor communication, high EE, and cold parenting which act as risk factors for the development and maintenance of schizophrenia

Question 31

NMS

Answer 31

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome - a side effect of typical anti-psychotics which can result in high temperatures, delirium, comas, or death

Question 32

Double-bind theory

Answer 32

Poor communication within families, in terms of a child receiving mixed messages and feeling unable to do the right thing, is a key risk factor for schizophrenia

Question 33

Clozapine

Answer 33

An a-typical anti-psychotic which blinds to dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate receptors to improve mood and cognitive functioning, and reduce depression in patients

Question 34

Cultural bias (in diagnosis)

Answer 34

African Americans are several times more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia than white people. This may be partially due to the normalisation of hearing voices in African cultures, and hence an increase in reporting of such experiences.

Question 35

CBT

Answer 35

A therapy based on cognitive and behavioural techniques which identifies irrational thoughts, challenges them, and replaces them

Question 36

The interactionist approach

Answer 36

An approach to explaining schizophrenia which acknowledges the role of biological and psychological factors

Question 37

Gender bias (in diagnoses)

Answer 37

Men are more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia than women. This may be explained by the fact that schizophrenic women typically have better interpersonal functioning than men, in terms of maintaining a job and relationships, and are hence under-diagnosed.