Schizophrenia/Psychosis and its treatment Flashcards
What is Schizophrenia?
A common and highly debilitating form of florid mental illness
Main clinical features include positive and negative symptoms together with deficits in cognitive function (attention, memory), anxiety and depression
What is the age of onset for schizophrenia?
Male: 28
Female: 32
Equally common in both sexes
More prevalent in the lower social classes
1% of people in the population have it/will get it
What are the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
Hallucinations
Delusions
Abnormality of behaviour
Abnormality of language
What are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
Avolition (lack of drive/motivation)
Anhedonia (can’t feel pleasure)
Affective blunting
Poverty of speech
How long must signs of schizophrenia persist to be diagnosed?
6 months
What are the causes of schizophrenia?
Genetic: strong but unclear
Environmental: Maternal virus infection, high BP during pregnancy
What is the rule of quarters?
1/4 remit completely
1/4 good social recovery
1/4 partial social recovery
1/4 progressive deterioration (steady course)
What are the 2 general classes of antipsychotics?
Typical and Atypical
Typical antipsychotics include
Phenothiazines (Chlorpromazine, Thioridazine)
Thioxanthines (Flupenthixol)
Butyrophenones (Haloperidol, Droperidol, Pimozide)
Atypical antipsychotics include
Dibenzodiazepines (Clozepine, Loxapine, Olanzapine)
Benzamides (Sulpride, Remoxipride)
Benzisoxazoles (Risperidone)
The Dopamine system involves
The substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area
Dopaminergic Pathways: The Tuberoinfudibular
Hypothalamus (Arcuate nucleus)
- Inhibits prolactin secretion
Dopaminergic Pathways: Nigrostriatal
Substantia nigra
- Movement, function and control
- EXTRA PYRAMIDAL SYMPTOMS
Dopaminergic Pathways: Mesolimbic
Ventral tegmentum
- Sensory input, perception, emotions and memory
- POSITIVE SYMPTOMS
Dopaminergic Pathways: Mesocortical
Ventral tegmentum
- Motivation, cognition, planning, social behaviour
- NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS
