Schizophrenia and Related Disorders

This set of flashcards focuses on key vocabulary related to schizophrenia and associated mental health symptoms, medications, and behaviors.

Hallucination

A perception in the absence of external stimulus that has qualities of real perception; often involves auditory or visual experiences.

Delusion

A fixed, false belief that is resistant to reason or confrontation with actual fact, often seen in psychiatric conditions.

Tactile hallucination

A type of hallucination that involves the sensation of physical contact, often described as feeling bugs crawling on or under the skin.

Antipsychotic medication

A class of drugs used to manage psychosis, particularly in schizophrenia, including both typical and atypical antipsychotics.

Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)

Medication-induced side effects, often seen with antipsychotics, including tardive dyskinesia, dystonia, and akathisia.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)

A life-threatening condition that can occur after antipsychotic medication use, characterized by muscle rigidity, fever, and autonomic instability.

Positive symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia that reflect an excess or distortion of normal functions, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized behavior.

Negative symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia that reflect a reduction or absence of normal functions, including flat affect, anhedonia, and lack of motivation.

Schizoaffective disorder

A mental disorder featuring symptoms of both schizophrenia and mood disorder, such as depression or mania.

Clozapine

An atypical antipsychotic that is effective for treatment-resistant schizophrenia but requires monitoring for agranulocytosis.

Agranulocytosis

A dangerous decrease in white blood cells, which increases the risk of infection; associated with certain antipsychotic medications.

Benzotropine

An anticholinergic medication used to minimize extrapyramidal symptoms associated with antipsychotic treatment.

Concrete thinking

Thinking that is literal and unable to grasp abstract concepts; often seen in individuals with schizophrenia.

Disorganized behavior

A type of behavior characterized by a lack of goal-directed activity; may include inappropriate emotional responses or inability to perform basic tasks.

Command hallucinations

A type of auditory hallucination where individuals hear voices instructing them to perform specific actions, which may be harmful.

Perseveration

The repetition of a particular response, such as a word or action, despite the absence or cessation of a stimulus.

Bizarre behavior

Unusual or strange actions that may seem out of context or inappropriate, often observed in individuals with schizophrenia.

Flat affect

A lack of emotional expression, which may be a symptom of a schizophrenia or other mood-related disorders.