Schizophrenia and Psychosis Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering definition, symptoms, prevalence, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia

A mental disorder characterised by reoccurring episodes of psychosis that are correlated with a general misperception of reality.

Positive symptoms

Symptoms that "add to a person," such as delusions, hallucinations, interference with thinking, and lack of insight into illness.

Delusions

A belief in something that is untrue and is not part of the person’s culture or subculture.

Hallucinations

Sensory perceptions involving hearing, smelling, seeing, tasting, or feeling things that appear to be real but only exist in the mind.

Interference with thinking

Any disruptions in cognitive processes that affect one’s ability to think clearly, focus, make decisions, or solve problems.

Lack of insight into illness

The inability to recognise or understand one's own mental health condition or the effects of their behaviour on themselves and others.

Negative symptoms

Symptoms that "take away from a person," including apathy, slowness, and social withdrawal.

Apathy

A negative symptom characterized by isolating oneself.

Slowness

Slow movements, specifically mentioned in the context of walking or writing.

Social withdrawal

Being unmotivated and avoiding activities.

Prevalence of Schizophrenia

Commonly noted at a rate of $1\%$, appearing in the age group $15$-$45$, with males more often affected and having an earlier onset.

Causes of Schizophrenia

A combination of genetic factors (common and rare variants) and environmental factors (childhood trauma, cannabis use, infections, and poor nutrition).

DSM-5 diagnostic criteria

Requires the described symptoms of schizophrenia to be present for at least $6$ months.

ICD-11 diagnostic criteria

Requires the described symptoms of schizophrenia to be present for at least $1$ month.

Chronicity

The recovery pattern where $20\%$ of patients fully recover after the first episode, while $80\%$ never recover or only partly recover.

Suicide Risk

The risk of suicide among patients with schizophrenia is identified at $10\%$.Substantive

Type 2 diabetes predisposition

Schizophrenia patients are $2$-$4\times$ more likely to develop diabetes, with a prevalence of $15$-$18\%$.

Positive symptoms treatment

Addressed using antipsychotics and psychological therapies like CBT and family therapy.

Negative symptoms treatment

Addressed using antidepressants and psychological therapies like CBT and family therapy.

Antipsychotics

Also known as major tranquilisers or neuroleptics, these drugs possess sedative, anxiolytic, antimanic, mood stabilizing, and antidepressant properties.