Schizophrenia Types, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Explanations, Treatments

Question 1

Schizophrenia

Answer 1

Severe psychotic disorder affecting approximately 1% of the population, characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and disordered speech.

Question 2

Disorganized Schizophrenia

Answer 2

Type of schizophrenia marked by disorganized speech and behavior, along with inappropriate or flat affect.

Question 3

Paranoid Schizophrenia

Answer 3

Type of schizophrenia characterized by prominent delusions and auditory hallucinations, along with suspiciousness and anxiety.

Question 4

Catatonic Schizophrenia

Answer 4

Type of schizophrenia involving disturbances in movement, such as rigidity, stupor, or excessive motor activity.

Question 5

Positive Symptoms

Answer 5

Excess or distortion of normal functions in schizophrenia, including delusions, hallucinations, and disordered speech.

Question 5

Delusions

Answer 5

False beliefs that appear real to the individual, such as delusions of grandeur, paranoia, and religious delusions.

Question 6

Hallucinations

Answer 6

Unreal perceptions, usually auditory (hearing voices), but can also be visual or tactile.

Question 7

Disordered Speech

Answer 7

Incoherent or random speech due to difficulties in organizing thoughts.

Question 8

Negative Symptoms

Answer 8

Loss or decrease in normal functions in schizophrenia, including speech poverty, avolition, affective flattening, and anhedonia.

Question 9

Avolition

Answer 9

Lack of motivation to engage in activities in schizophrenia.

Question 10

Speech Poverty

Answer 10

Reduced speech output and fluency in schizophrenia.

Question 11

Affective Flattening

Answer 11

Reduced emotional expression in schizophrenia.

Question 12

Anhedonia

Answer 12

Loss of interest in almost all activities in schizophrenia.

Question 13

Reliability

Answer 13

Consistency in diagnosis among different psychiatrists and over time, historically problematic in diagnosing schizophrenia.

Question 14

Culture Bias

Answer 14

Stereotypes and racial biases influencing diagnosis, leading to higher rates of schizophrenia diagnoses among ethnic minorities.

Question 15

Validity

Answer 15

Accuracy of diagnosing schizophrenia, challenging due to potential misdiagnosis and questions about diagnostic procedures.

Question 16

Gender Bias

Answer 16

Men more likely to be involuntarily committed, while women more likely to seek help voluntarily due to gender stereotypes affecting mental health perception and diagnosis.

Question 17

Co-morbidity

Answer 17

Occurrence of other disorders alongside schizophrenia, complicating diagnosis due to symptom overlap with conditions like depression and substance abuse.

Question 18

Symptom Overlap

Answer 18

Overlapping symptoms with other disorders like bipolar disorder, making it challenging to accurately diagnose schizophrenia.

Question 19

Genetics

Answer 19

Significant genetic component in schizophrenia, with higher risks in individuals with affected relatives. Twin studies show higher concordance rates in monozygotic twins compared to dizygotic twins.

Question 20

Neurotransmitters

Answer 20

Dopamine hypothesis suggests excessive dopamine activity is linked to schizophrenia. Drugs that reduce dopamine levels can alleviate symptoms.

Question 21

Neurological Factors

Answer 21

Structural abnormalities in the brain, such as ventricular enlargement, associated with schizophrenia. Establishing causality remains difficult.

Question 22

Family Dysfunction

Answer 22

Dysfunctional family environments, particularly those with high expressed emotion (EE), can exacerbate symptoms and increase relapse rates in schizophrenia.

Question 23

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBTp)

Answer 23

Psychological therapy that helps schizophrenia patients manage symptoms by altering maladaptive thoughts and behaviors.

Question 23

Family Therapy

Answer 23

Psychological therapy that educates and supports families of schizophrenia patients, reducing relapse rates and improving overall outcomes.

Question 24

Typical Antipsychotics

Answer 24

Drugs that target dopamine receptors to reduce positive symptoms of schizophrenia but can have significant side effects.

Question 24

Cognitive Explanations

Answer 24

Distorted thought processes in schizophrenia leading to delusions and hallucinations. Cognitive dysfunctions affect how individuals interpret and respond to stimuli.

Question 25

Atypical Antipsychotics

Answer 25

Drugs that affect both dopamine and serotonin systems, often with fewer side effects and some efficacy on negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Question 26

Token Economies

Answer 26

Operant conditioning techniques used in institutional settings to encourage positive behaviors in schizophrenia patients.

Question 27

Interactionist Approach

Answer 27

The diathesis-stress model posits that schizophrenia results from a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental stressors.