Week 8: Schizophrenia + Other Psychotic Disorders

Question 1

What are the symptoms of Schizophrenia according to the DSM-5? (4)

Answer 1

• Delusions: erroneous beliefs held with strong conviction
• Hallucinations: any sensory modality (auditory, visual, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, experienced with same vividness and sense of reality of a true perception
• Disorganised speech: form of thought, emotion, motor behaviour
• Negative symptoms: social withdrawal, loss of motivation, loss of enjoyment in activities, loss of emotional expression, reduced thought seen in poverty of speech

Question 2

How is the brain affected in schizophrenia?

Answer 2

• Neuroanatomical differences: ventricular enlargement, reduced brain volume
• Dopamine involvement
• Reduced neurocognitive functioning

Question 3

What are the genetic/biological risk and causal factors of schizophrenia?

Answer 3

• Having relatives with the disorder increases risk
• Prenatal exposure to viruses
• Pregnancy and birth complications
• Early nutritional deficiencies
• Maternal stress and inflammation
• Head injury

Question 4

What are the psychosocial and cultural factors associated with schizophrenia? (3)

Answer 4

• Urban living
• Immigration
• Cannabis use during adolescence

Question 5

What is the clinical outcome of schizophrenia and how is it treated?

Answer 5

Often long-term treatment or institutionalisation, first or second generation antipsychotics, psychosocial treatments such as family therapy.