Schizophrenia: Introduction Flashcards
How prevalent is schizophrenia?
- affects about 15 of the population
- equally common in males and females
-men get diagnosed around 16-25 whereas females diagnosed later between 25-35 approx
Prognosis definition and prognosis of schiz (according to Bleuler)
- development of the disorder
- according to Bleuler’s (1978) longitudinal study of 2000 schizophrenics
- symptoms are most sevre in early adulthood, during first 5 years of onset
- 20% sow full recovery
- 40% continue to suffer from symptoms and distress for the rest of their lives
- 40% recover from only psotove symptoms
- symptoms are most sevre in early adulthood, during first 5 years of onset
This implies a diagnosis of sz has poor predictive validity
Name and outline 3 positive symptoms of schizophrenia
- Hallucinations: False sensory experiences that may not have any identifiable source. The most commonly reported types are auditory and visual. Less common are olfactory and tactile
- Delusions: false beliefs not based on evidence or fact that are very difficult to disprove. There are many types like grandeur, persecution and control
- Disorganised thinking and speech: This makes it hard to concentrate on anything. Thoughts to drift one thing to another although there will be no connection between them.
Name two negative symptoms
- speech poverty
- avolition
Describe avolition
lack of motivation to carry out a range of activities. Complete reduction of interests and desires as well as inability to initiate and persist in goal directed behvaiour.
Describe flat effect
a redution or flattenting of emotion. The range and intensity of facial expressions, tone of voice and eye contact are reduced.
Describe inappropriate affect
- Emotional expressions are unsuitable for the situation such as laughing at serious things
Outline disorganised speech and thinking
This makes it hard to concenttare on anything. Thought drift from one thing to another . Words may also be jumbled or confused making it hard to for others to understand what is being said.