Signs and symptoms of mental health conditions

Question 1

What are the three types of symptoms you experience in Schizophrenia?

Answer 1

Positive symptoms - presence of abnormal behaviour
Negative symptoms - lack of normal behaviour
Cognitive symptoms

Question 2

What are some of the positive signs and symptoms of Schizophrenia?

Answer 2

Hallucinations
Delusional beliefs
Changes in thoughts
Disorganised speech/thought

Question 3

What sub-types of hallucinations can occur in Schizophrenia?

Answer 3

Auditory, visual, tactile (feeling), olfactory (smell) and gustatory (unpleasant taste

Question 4

What are auditory hallucinations like?

Answer 4

Can be a familiar/unfamiliar voice
Running commentary, talking about or to the individual in a negative way usually

Question 5

What are some of the delusional beliefs?

Answer 5

False beliefs
Grandiose - ones of self importance
Paranoid - partner is trying to harm them

Question 6

How may a patient with Schizophrenia describe their changes in thoughts?

Answer 6

Thought insertion
Thought withdrawal
Echo (thoughts are being repeated by others)
Broadcasting

Question 7

How may a patient with Schizophrenia have changes in speech?

Answer 7

Words become jumbled, jumping around topics, easily distracted

Question 8

What are some of the negative symptoms of Schizophrenia?

Answer 8

Flattened mood
Lack of interest in activities
Unable to initiate activities
Apathy - lack of caring
Alogia - speech may be reduced in quantity
Anhedonia
Social isolation/withdrawal
Slow movements
Poor self care/self neglect
Reduced productivity in thoughts/speech

Question 9

What are some of the cognitive symptoms of Schizophrenia?

Answer 9

Affects memory, attention, executive function

These symptoms unaffected by medication and resolution of positive symptoms does not correlate to improvement in cognitive functioning

Question 10

How many patients with Schizophrenia suffer with negative and cognitive symptoms?

Answer 10

40-80% and are strong predictors of poor outcomes.
They tend to be more consistent and can worsen with the duration of the illness and respond poorly to medication.

Question 11

What are the two tools used to diagnose Schizophrenia?

Answer 11

DSM-5 (US)
ICD-10 (WHO)

Different criteria but symptoms must be present for a month or more

Question 12

What are some of the differential diagnosis of Schizophrenia?

Answer 12

Substance induced psychotic disorder
Sepsis, underlying cerebral trauma
Severe mood disorder
PTSD
OCD
Personality disorder
ASD or communication disorders
Dementia