Schizophrenia Spectrum and other Psychotic Disorders (DSM Criteria)

Question 1

Schizophrenia Criteria A

Answer 1

Two or more of the following:

1. Delusions
2. Hallucinations
3. Disorganize speech
4. Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
5. Negative Symptoms

Question 2

Criteria A symptoms must be present for…

Answer 2

A significant portion of time during a 1 month period

Question 3

To be considered schizophrenia in Criteria A, at least one of the two (min.) must be…

Answer 3

1. Delusions
2. Hallucinations
   or
3. Disorganized speech

Question 4

Schizophrenia Criteria B: Disturbance must cause…

Answer 4

Significant impairment in functioning

Question 5

Schizophrenia Criteria C: Symptoms must be present for…

Answer 5

At least 6 months, which include at least 1 month of symptoms that meet Criteria A

Question 6

Schizophrenia Criteria D:

Any mood component to the disorder has been…

Answer 6

Ruled out

Question 7

Schizophrenia Criteria E:

Not attributable to effect of…

Answer 7

A substance or medical condition

Question 8

Schizophrenia Triggers

Answer 8

• Can be triggered by major life transitions

- Psycho triggers: feelings of shame, anxiety, fear

Question 9

Attention as experienced in Schizophrenia

Answer 9

• Great difficulty filtering attention

- Ex. Sounds can be much louder - cars passing outside - delusional belief that “someone is coming for me”

Question 10

Psychosis

Answer 10

• Altered sense of reality

- Not in touch with reality

Question 11

Symptoms of psychosis

Answer 11

• Limited social contact
• Restricted affective range
• Avolition - inability to organize and act on a plan - easily overwhelmed

Question 12

Anxiety as the “devil” in the room

Answer 12

• Psychosis can depict/embody real emotions (such as anxiety)
• Such responses, though may seem irrational, are a persons way of managing their psychosis

Question 13

Schizophreniform

Answer 13

• Exact same criteria A as schizophrenia

- Symptoms for at least 1 month, but less than 6 months

Question 14

Schizoaffective Disorder

Answer 14

• An uninterrupted period of illness during which there is a major mood episode (depressive or manic) concurrent with criteria A of schizophrenia
• Delusions or hallucinations present for 2 or more weeks in the ABSENCE of a major mood episode (depressive or manic)
• Symptoms that meet criteria for a major mood episode are present for the MAJORITY of the total duration of the active and residual portions of the illness