Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

This set of flashcards contains key terms and definitions related to the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, aimed at helping students understand and memorize essential concepts.

Schizophrenia

A severe mental disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and negative symptoms.

Delusions

Fixed beliefs that are not amenable to change in light of conflicting evidence.

Hallucinations

Perception-like experiences that occur without an external stimulus.

Disorganized Thinking

A formal thought disorder where the individual's speech is incoherent or lacks logical sequence.

Negative Symptoms

Diminished emotional expression, avolition, and other deficits that negatively impact communication and interaction.

Prodromal Phase

The early warning stage prior to full psychotic symptoms, often involving odd thoughts or behaviors.

Active Phase

The stage when full-blown psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, manifest.

Residual Phase

The recovery or chronic stage following an acute episode, where symptoms may lessen but not completely disappear.

Avolition

Decreased motivation to initiate and sustain purposeful activities.

Catatonia

A marked decrease in reactivity to the environment, characterized by stereotyped movements or a complete lack of verbal and motor responses.

Schizoaffective Disorder

A mental disorder characterized by a major mood episode occurring concurrently with symptoms of schizophrenia.

Brief Psychotic Disorder

A disorder featuring the sudden onset of at least one positive psychotic symptom lasting from 1 day to less than 1 month.

Delusional Disorder

A disorder characterized by the presence of one or more delusions that last for at least 1 month.

Bizarre Delusions

Delusions that are implausible and not understandable to same-culture peers.

Ego Distinctiveness

The perception that one's thoughts and actions are controlled by an outside force.

Persecutory Delusions

Belief that one is being targeted for harm by individuals or groups.

Somatic Delusions

Delusions focused on preoccupations regarding bodily functions or sensations.

Referential delusions

belief that certain gestures, comments,

environmental cues, and so forth are directed at oneself

Grandiose delusions

when an individual believes that he or she has

exceptional abilities, wealth, or fame

Erotomanic delusions

when an individual believes falsely that

another person is in love with him or her) are also seen

Nihilistic delusions

involve the conviction that a major

catastrophe will occur

withdrawal

belief that one’s thoughts have been “removed” by some outside

force

insertion

belief that alien thoughts have been put into one’s mind

delusions of control

belief that one’s body or actions are being acted on or manipulated

by some outside force

Auditory hallucinations

are usually experienced as voices,

whether familiar or unfamiliar, that are perceived as distinct

from the individual’s own thoughts

Those that occur while falling asleep (hypnagogic) or waking up

(hypnopompic) are considered to be within the range of normal

experience

tangentiality

Answers to questions may be obliquely related or completely

unrelated

incoherence or “word salad

Speech may be so severely disorganized that it is nearly

incomprehensible and resembles receptive aphasia in its

linguistic disorganization 

glossolalia

speaking in tongues

GROSSLY DISORGANIZED

also known as Abnormal Motor Behavior

may manifest itself in a variety of ways, ranging from childlike

“silliness” to unpredictable agitation

Diminished emotional expression

includes reductions in the expression of emotions in the face, eye contact, intonation of speech (prosody), and movements of the hand, head, and face that normally give an emotional emphasis to speech.

Alogia

is manifested by diminished speech output

Anhedonia

is the decreased ability to experience pleasure. Individuals with schizophrenia can still enjoy a pleasurable activity in the moment and can recall it, but show a reduction in the frequency of engaging in pleasurable activity.

Asociality

refers to the apparent lack of interest in social interactions and may be associated with avolition, but it can also be a manifestation of limited opportunities for social interactions

Erotomanic Type

This subtype applies when the central theme of the delusion is that another

person is in love with the individual.

Grandiose Type

This subtype applies when the central theme of the delusion is the conviction of

having some great (but unrecognized) talent or insight or having made some important discovery.

Jealous Type

This subtype applies when the central theme of the individual’s delusion is that

his or her spouse or lover is unfaithful

Persecutory Type

This subtype applies when the central theme of the delusion involves the

individual’s belief that he or she is being conspired against, cheated, spied on, followed, poisoned or drugged, maliciously maligned, harassed, or obstructed in the pursuit of long-term goals.

Somatic Type

This subtype applies when the central theme of the delusion involves bodily

functions or sensations

Schizophrenia Case

Rico, a 25-year-old man, has been hearing voices commenting on his actions for the past year. He believes that his neighbors are spying on him through hidden cameras. He often mutters to himself and neglects personal hygiene. His family notes that he no longer socializes, has stopped working, and spends most of his day staring blankly at the wall.

Schizophrenia Case

Ana, 32, started to believe she was chosen by God to deliver secret messages to the world. She talks incoherently, jumps between unrelated topics, and sometimes laughs inappropriately. Over the last eight months, her functioning deteriorated — she lost her job and isolates herself at home.

Schizoaffective Disorder Case

Carla, 28, experiences auditory hallucinations and believes that the television speaks directly to her. She also has periods of deep depression — crying all day, feeling hopeless, and losing interest in activities. The hallucinations sometimes occur even when her mood is normal. These episodes have been ongoing for a year.

Schizoaffective Disorder Case

Jon, 35, shows signs of mania — talking rapidly, sleeping only two hours a night, and claiming he can “control people’s minds.” Even after the manic episode ended, he continued hearing voices commanding him to act. His condition has lasted for several months, affecting work and relationships.

Schizophreniform Disorder Case

Miguel, 22, began isolating himself from friends, neglecting schoolwork, and expressing odd beliefs that his classmates can read his thoughts. He also hears whispering voices. These symptoms have lasted for about four months but have not yet reached the six-month duration required for schizophrenia.

Schizophreniform Disorder Case

Tina, a 19-year-old student, suddenly began acting erratically — laughing to herself, claiming aliens implanted a chip in her brain, and neglecting self-care. Her symptoms improved after five months of antipsychotic treatment.

Delusional Disorder Case

Mrs. Lopez, 45, firmly believes her neighbors are trying to poison her food through her ventilation system. She has no hallucinations or disorganized speech and functions normally except for avoiding eating at home. Her belief has persisted for more than a year.

Delusional Disorder Case

Mark, 38, believes a popular actress is secretly in love with him and sends him coded messages through TV interviews. He sends her daily letters despite having never met her. Apart from this delusion, he behaves normally and maintains his job.

Brief Psychotic Disorder Case

After the sudden death of her father, 27-year-old Lea began shouting that she was “the chosen one” and that angels spoke to her. She displayed disorganized behavior and speech but returned to her normal self after two weeks.

Brief Psychotic Disorder Case

Paul, 30, suddenly began claiming that the government implanted a tracking device in his head a week before his wedding. He became paranoid and erratic for several days but fully recovered within two weeks without lasting impairment.