schizophrenia active recall questions

1. What percentage of the population is affected by schizophrenia?

~1%

2. What is the most common age of onset?

15–25 years

3. Is childhood-onset schizophrenia common?

Rare (1 in 40,000)

4. Which gender tends to develop schizophrenia earlier?

Males

5. What environmental factor often worsens symptoms?

Stress

6. What percentage of people with schizophrenia return to “regular” employment?

~15%

7. Is schizophrenia a single illness or multiple disorders?

Multiple disorders

8. How many symptoms are required for diagnosis, and for how long?

At least 2 symptoms for 1 month

9. What are the 5 core symptoms listed in DSM-5?

Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized/catatonic behavior, negative symptoms

10. What is the minimum total duration of disturbance?

6 months

11. Which symptom categories are considered “positive”?

Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech/behavior

12. Which symptom categories are considered “negative”?

Affective flattening, alogia, avolition, anhedonia, social withdrawal

13. What characterizes the prodromal phase?

Subtle changes, social withdrawal, unusual behavior

14. What happens in the acute phase?

Active positive/negative symptoms

15. What occurs in the stabilization phase?

Symptoms decrease toward baseline

16. What defines the maintenance phase?

Remission, mild persistent symptoms

17. What neurotransmitter theory is most strongly linked to schizophrenia?

Dopamine hypothesis

18. What structural brain changes are often seen?

Enlarged ventricles, reduced gray matter, altered prefrontal cortex/hippocampus

19. What prenatal factors increase risk?

Infection, malnutrition, hypoxia

20. Name three psychological or environmental stressors that can contribute.

Psych stressors, environmental stressors, prenatal stressors

21. What role do genetics play in schizophrenia?

Strong role; highly heritable

22. What substance is most frequently abused?

Nicotine

23. Which mental health conditions commonly co-occur?

Anxiety, depression, suicide risk

24. What is psychogenic polydipsia?

Excessive water intake → hyponatremia

25. Why is assessment for depression crucial in schizophrenia?

Increases relapse, substance use, suicide risk

26. Give 3 examples of positive symptoms.

Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech

27. Give 3 examples of negative symptoms.

Alogia, avolition, anhedonia, affective flattening

28. Give 2 examples of cognitive symptoms.

Impaired memory, poor executive function

29. Give 2 examples of affective symptoms.

Depression, increased relapse/suicide risk

30. Which type of symptom is harder to treat with medication?

Negative symptoms

31. What is thought blocking?

Sudden interruption of thought flow

32. What is magical thinking?

Belief thoughts/actions can cause unrelated events

33. What is a neologism?

New word with meaning only to patient

34. What is a clang association?

Words based on sound

35. What is word salad?

Jumble of words, meaningless

36. What is flight of ideas?

Rapidly shifting topics

37. What is circumstantiality?

Over-inclusion of trivial detail

38. What is tangentiality?

Replying off-topic

39. What is echolalia?

Repetition of others’ words

40. What is echopraxia?

Repetition of others’ movements

41. What is always the first nursing priority?

Safety

42. What is anosognosia?

Lack of awareness of illness

43. Should a nurse argue with a patient’s delusions?

No

44. What communication style is best with schizophrenia?

Clear, simple, reality-based

45. What does KISS stand for in nursing communication?

Keep It Short & Simple

46. How should nurses approach patients experiencing hallucinations?

Ask directly, acknowledge, but focus on reality

47. What nursing tone should be used when setting boundaries?

Calm, matter-of-fact, non-judgmental

48. How should socially inappropriate behavior be managed?

Protect, redirect, reduce stimulation, set boundaries

49. What type of statements should nurses use when talking to patients?

Reality-based statements

50. What is the main advantage of FGAs?

Less expensive

51. What is their biggest disadvantage?

EPS, tardive dyskinesia, anticholinergic effects

52. Which symptoms do FGAs primarily target?

Positive symptoms

53. Which symptoms do SGAs treat?

Positive & negative symptoms

54. What is the main disadvantage of SGAs?

Metabolic syndrome

55. Which symptoms can TGAs improve?

Positive, negative, cognitive symptoms

56. Give an example of an FGA.

Haloperidol

57. Give two examples of SGAs.

Risperidone, olanzapine

58. Give an example of a TGA.

Aripiprazole

59. Which antipsychotic requires ANC/WBC monitoring?

Clozapine

60. How often are WBC/ANC monitored during the first 6 months on clozapine?

Weekly

61. Why are depot injections used for antipsychotics?

Improve adherence (long-acting)

62. What is the biggest problem with antipsychotics overall?

Adherence

63. What does EPS stand for?

Extrapyramidal side effects

64. Name 3 types of EPS.

Dystonia, akathisia, pseudo-Parkinsonism

65. Which EPS resembles Parkinson’s disease?

Pseudo-Parkinsonism

66. What is akathisia?

Severe restlessness, pacing

67. What is dystonia?

Severe muscle spasm, especially neck/tongue

68. What drug can be given to reverse EPS?

Benztropine or diphenhydramine

69. What is tardive dyskinesia?

Late-onset involuntary movements

70. What test is used to monitor tardive dyskinesia?

AIMS test

71. What is NMS?

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome

72. What are its key symptoms?

Rigidity, fever, diaphoresis, ↑CPK

73. How is NMS treated?

Stop meds, hydrate, cool, dopamine agonist, dantrolene

74. What is anticholinergic toxicity?

Toxic buildup of ACh blockade

75. What are its symptoms?

Dry mouth, urinary retention, seizures

76. What is metabolic syndrome?

Weight gain, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance

77. Which drug class is most likely to cause it?

Second-generation antipsychotics

78. What is the black box warning for antipsychotics in dementia patients?

Increased mortality in dementia patients

79. Eric’s speech doesn’t connect and gets derailed. What symptom is this?

Disorganized speech (positive symptom)

80. His poor concentration and subtle changes in behavior put him in which phase?

Prodromal phase

81. “Worms under my skin” is an example of what symptom?

Somatic delusion (positive symptom)

82. Rapid topic changes are what speech pattern?

Flight of ideas

83. What needs to be considered in discharge planning?

Living arrangement, finances, social/family support, resilience, community resources

84. Why is connecting patients to resources more important than just referring them?

Active connection increases engagement/adherence