Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

Psychosis

Inability to differentiate between what is real and what is unreal.

Schizophrenia

A severe form of psychosis characterized by alternating phases of clear thinking and disorganized thinking.

Positive Symptoms

Overt expressions of unusual perceptions, thoughts, and behaviors in psychotic disorders.

Delusion

Ideas that an individual believes to be true but that are highly unlikely or impossible.

Hallucinations

Unreal perceptual experiences that can be auditory, visual, or tactile.

Formal thought disorder

A tendency to slip from one topic to another unrelated topic with little coherent transition.

Catatonia

Disorganized behavior reflecting unresponsiveness to the environment.

Negative Symptoms

Loss of certain qualities of the person, such as emotional expression or motivation.

Restricted affect

Severe reduction in or absence of emotional expression.

Avolition

Inability to initiate or persist at common, goal-directed activities.

DSM-5 Criteria for Schizophrenia

Individual must show two or more symptoms of psychosis, one of which should be delusions, hallucination, or disorganized speech.

Prodromal symptoms

Symptoms that precede the acute phase of schizophrenia and are lessened.

Residual symptoms

Lessened symptoms that follow the acute phase of schizophrenia.

Schizophreniform Disorder

Meets criteria for schizophrenia with symptoms lasting only 1 to 6 months.

Schizoaffective Disorder

Mix of schizophrenia symptoms and a major depressive or manic episode.

Genetic transmission

The concept that there is an increased risk of schizophrenia in individuals with a biological relative who has the disorder.

Neurotransmitter theories

Suggest that excess levels of dopamine contribute to schizophrenia.

Typical antipsychotics

Medications effective on positive symptoms of schizophrenia but with significant side effects.

Tardive dyskinesia

Neurological disorder involving involuntary movement of the tongue, face, mouth, or jaw as a side effect of antipsychotic medications.

Assertive community treatment programs

Comprehensive services meeting patients' needs 24 hours a day from a team of experts.