Schizophrenia

Question 1

SC is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder. What are the primary symtoms: (5)

Answer 1

Positive symptoms:
1. delusions
2. disorganized speech
3. hallucinations
4. abnormal psychomotor behaviour
5. Negative symptoms:
- flattened effect
- reduced speech
- lack of initiative

Question 2

Outline the Biological risk factors of Schizo

Answer 2

• Brain structure abnormalities (CBS fluid in ventricles, reduced grey matter - Dec making, memory, auditory processing )
• genetics (heritable)
• neurochemistry (excess dopamine)
• neurodevelopmental (malnutrition, prem birth)

Question 3

Outline the Psych and Social factors in Schizo

Answer 3

Family influence (low IQ, poor learning/comm abilities)

Traumatic childhoods

Substance abuse (cannabis)

Question 4

List some of the diagnostic criteria for Schizo

Answer 4

• hallucinations
• disorganized speech
• marked decrease in functioning in more than 1 domain
• disturbance for more than 6 months
• NO dep/manic episode in active-phase of symptoms

Question 5

How is the severity of Schizo/ the active phase of Schizo assessed?

Answer 5

Rated by the number of primary symptoms on psychosis

Question 6

What are the possible treatment routes for Schizo?

Answer 6

1. Hospitalization:
   - stabilization, management, care
2. Meds: antipsychotics:
   - typical treat positive symptoms through Dop receptor
   - atypical treat +&- symptoms through Ser and Dop receptors
3. Biotherapeutic: ECT
4. Psychosocial:
   - Psychoed
   - DBT (id and understand feelings)
   - Social skills training
   - Traditional healing

Question 7

What are some of the controversial issues on Schizo?

Answer 7

• LAI Antipsychotics: supported as efficacious, but miss-trust from clinicians and patients alike
• Diagnosis in kids: poorly understood and difficult (v similar to BPD, ASD, ADHD symptoms. Risks of not diagnosing vs incorrect diagnosis

Question 8

Terminology:
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Disorganized speech and behaviour

Answer 8

• an experience involving a perception of something not present (vis, aud, tact, olfact)
• A false belief or judgement about external reality (persec, religious, somatic, referential)
• Words and behaviours not appropriate to context

Question 9

Terminology

Anhedonia
Avolition
Alogia
Affective flattening
Asociality

Answer 9

• inability to feel pleasure from pleasurable activities
• lack on interest or engagement in goal-directed behavior
• impairment of language abilities
• reduced of absent expression of effect
• lack of motivation to engage in social situations