Schizophrenia: Features and Symptoms

Question 1

What is schizophrenia?

Answer 1

• A long-term mental disorder involved in the breakdown between thoughts and emotions
• It can result in distorted perception that leads sufferers to confuse reality and fiction

Question 2

What is a feature?

Answer 2

The general information of the disorder, such as age of onset and most vulnerable gender.

Question 3

What are 5 features of schizophrenia?

Answer 3

1) Recognised in every country and culture - 1% of population suffer from it
2) Most common mental illness in the world
3) There are different types (paranoia, disorganised, catatonic, etc)
4) More common in poorer sections of communities
5) Cannot be cured - 15% will suffer from it for the rest of their lives

Question 4

What is a symptom?

Answer 4

Individual behaviours of the patient associated with the disorder.

Question 5

What is a positive symptom?

Answer 5

Behaviours which are additional to typical behaviours that can be affected by culture.

Question 6

List 3 positive symptoms.

Answer 6

1) Delusions
2) Hallucinations
3) Echolalia (repetition of speech)

Question 7

What is a negative symptom?

Answer 7

Behaviours which are missing from typical behaviour and often start before positive.

Question 8

List 3 negative symptoms.

Answer 8

1) Apathy
2) Anhedonia (lack of pleasure)
3) Poverty of speech

Question 9

List the 6 criteria that the DSM-IV uses for diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Answer 9

1) Characteristic symptoms - two or more must be present
2) Social dysfunction - if there is any disturbance at work or socially
3) Duration - behaviour must be present for at least 6 months
4) Schizoaffective and mood disorder exclusion - these must be ruled out
5) Substance exclusion - need to rule out behaviour being down to medication
6) Relationship to a pervasive developmental disorder - history of development issues are added to diagnosis