Schizophrenia Features + Symptoms Flashcards
What is Sz?
A long term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion and behaviour. This leads to positive and negative symptoms.
Examples of positive symptoms
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Thought insertion
What are delusions?
When the individual thinks that people are out to get them. A common delusion with Sz is persecution.
What are Hallucinations?
They can be auditory, visual or sensory (smell, hear etc) and are when the individual experiences things that do not exist outside of their mind.
What is thought insertion?
Beliefs that are not the individuals own and are put into their mind without them paying attention or thinking about it.
Examples of negative symptoms
- Poverty of speech
- Social withdrawal
- Anadenia
What is Anadenia?
When an individual cannot experience pleasure.
How much of the population suffers from Sz?
Around 1 %
What ages does Sz mostly affect?
Between early 20-25s
What gender is mostly affected?
Males are more affected and suffer more more severe symptoms and longer hospitalisations.
How is Sz diagnosed?
In order to diagnose someone with SZ they must have at least 2 out of 4 key symptoms. This is used across all clinicians in order to diagnose with inter rater reliability.
What are the 4 key symptoms needed?
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganised speech or thoughts
- Negative symptoms
