symptoms and features of schizophrenia

Question 1

give four positive symptoms ?

Answer 1

1. delusions
2. hallucinations
3. disorganised thinking and/or speaking
4. abnormal motor behaviours

Question 2

define delusion

Answer 2

beliefs that are contrary to fact

Question 3

define hallucinations

Answer 3

perceptual experiences that occur in the absence of external stimulation of the corresponding sensory organ

Question 4

define disorganised thinking/speech

Answer 4

an inability to make connections between thoughts, resulting in incomprehensible language and ideas that seem loosely connected

Question 5

define disorganised behaviour

Answer 5

behaviour that is not necessarily expected in the situation, or that changes rapidly and is out of context

Question 6

what are positive symptoms ?

Answer 6

symptoms that add to the experience of the patient

Question 7

what are four examples of negative symptoms ?

Answer 7

1. lack of energy and enthusiasm
2. poverty of speech
3. poor motivation (avolition)
4. social withdrawal

Question 8

define catatonia

Answer 8

various motor disturbances characterised by abnormality of movement and behaviour

Question 9

what are negative symptoms ?

Answer 9

symptoms that mean the person has ‘lost’ an element of normal functioning

Question 10

what are grandiose delusions ?

Answer 10

the individual believes they have remarkable qualities such as being famous or having special powers

Question 11

what are persecutory delusions ?

Answer 11

the individual reports believing that others are ‘out to get them’ and trying to harm them in some way

Question 12

what are referential delusions ?

Answer 12

the individual holds a belief that certain behaviours or language from others are being directed at them personally

Question 13

what is the likelihood of someone developing schizophrenia ?

Answer 13

between 0.3 and 0.7 per cent

Question 14

what are the gender differences in the features of schizophrenia ?

Answer 14

males are more likely to develop a higher proportion of negative symptoms and have a longer durations of the disorder - which are both associated with poor prognosis

Question 15

when is the peak onset of schizophrenia in males ?

Answer 15

mid-twenties

Question 16

when is the peak onset of schizophrenia is females ?

Answer 16

late twenties

Question 17

name a feature of schizophrenia that involves its prognosis?

Answer 17

it is often a degenerative disorder where the episodes develop overtime

Question 18

when is it more likely for a patient to have a worse prognosis ?

Answer 18

when the patients show psychotic episodes earlier than in late adolescence

Question 19

what percentage of those diagnosed with schizophrenia respond well to treatment ?

Answer 19

approximately 20%