L2- Psychosis + Schizophrenia

Is Psychosis a diagnosis?

No- it’s a state

What are positive symptoms of Psychosis?

-Delusions (false but fixed beliefs) - change socially overtime (religious → AI)

-Hallucinations (deception of senses, perception in absence of stimuli)

What are disorganised symptoms (thought disorder) of Psychosis?

-Disordered thinking/speech (rush to explain, fleeting ideas, perseveration, poverty of speech-slow/vague)

-Disordered behaviours (executive function issues)

What are negative symptoms of Psychosis?

Social + Emotional flatness (less emotional expression in face + body,

-avolition (less self motivated)

-anhedonia (less pleasure in positive stimuli + past joys)

-asociality (less interest in social settings)

-alogia (decreased speech in replies - poverty of speech)

What is the most common form of hallucination?

Auditory, then visual (unknown why)

→ content differs cross-culturally

What did Luhrmann et al (2015) find?

Hallucinations’ content varies cross-culturally

• US (mind as palace, intrusive unreal + violent thoughts)

• South India (useful guidance, voices of relatives + social status critiques)

• West Africa (morally good + causally powerful, linked to spirits)

What is the DSM 5 Criteria for Schizophrenia?

2 or more (and need at least one of 1,2,3)

1. Delusions

2. Hallucinations

3. Thought Disorder

4. Abnormal motor behaviour

5. Negative symptoms

• rule out substance induced / other disorders

• Impaired functioning for 6 months or more

What other disorders are on the Schizophrenia Spectrum?

-Schizoaffective disorder

(features of schizophrenia + severe mood disorder)

-Schizophreniform disorder

(Schizophrenia like psychosis lasting at least 1 month but less than 6 months)

-Delusional disorder

Delusional beliefs are isolated symptom

-Brief psychotic disorder

Sudden onset of psychotic symptoms AND/OR disorganised speech AND/OR catatonic behaviour