Scizophrenia Flashcards
What is the definition of psychosis?
-Inability to distinguish between symptoms of delusion, hallucination and disordered thinking from reality
What is the clinical presentation of psychosis?
- Hallucinations (of the 5 special senses)
- Delusional beliefs (Grandiose, persecutory, hypochondriacal, self referential)
Which illnesses may present with psychotic symptoms?
- Schizophrenia
- Delirium
- Severe affective disorder (Depressive/Manic)
What are some of the features of psychosis in delirium/organic brain disorders?
- Consequent upon brain or systemic disease
- Prominent visual experience, hallucinations and illusions
- Affect of terror
- Delusions are persecutory and evanescent
- Fluctuating, worse at night
How may psychotic symptoms present in severe depressive episodes?
- Delusions of guilt, worthlessness and persecution
- Derogatory auditory auditory hallucinations
How may psychotic symptoms present in manic episodes?
- Delusions of grandeur, special powers or messianic roles
- Gross overactivity, irritability and behavioural disturbance: manic excitement
What are some good prognostic factors for schizophrenia?
- Absence of family history
- Good premorbid function - stable personality, relationships
- Clear precipitant
- Acute onset
- Mood disturbance
- Prompt treatment
- Maintenance of initiative, motivation
What are some poor prognostic factors for schizophrenia?
-Slow insidious onset
-Prominent negative symptoms
-Childhood onset
(Higher suicide risk + mortality than general population)
