Schizophrenia

• What are the symptoms required for a schizophrenia diagnosis according to DSM-5?

  • Two of the following symptoms for at least a month:
  • Positive symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, delusions)
  • Negative symptoms (e.g., avolition, speech poverty)
• What are positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

  Experiences additional to normal experiences
• What are negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

  Loss of normal experiences and abilities
• What is avolition?

  Lack of purposeful behavior
• What does speech poverty refer to?

  Loss of quality and quantity of verbal responses
• How can speech be classified as a positive symptom?

  If it is excessively disorganized
• What are the reliability and validity issues in diagnosing schizophrenia?

  • Reliability:
  • Inter-rater reliability: agreement between observers
  • Test-retest reliability: consistency over time
  • Validity:
  • Questions about the existence of the disorder
  • Concordance rates among doctors
• What was the concordance rate found by Back in 1963 for schizophrenia diagnoses?

  54%
• What does comorbidity refer to in schizophrenia?

  Diagnosis with other disorders
• What are the comorbidity rates found by Bley (2009) for schizophrenia and depression?

  50%
• How does gender bias affect schizophrenia diagnosis?

  Women's experiences are often underdiagnosed
• What cultural bias is observed in schizophrenia diagnoses in the UK?

  African-Caribbean heritage individuals are overdiagnosed
• What did Loring and Powell (1988) find regarding psychiatrist biases?

  Overdiagnosis of black clients and underdiagnosis of females
• What are the biological explanations for schizophrenia?

  • Genetic explanation: polygenetic nature
  • Neurotransmitter imbalances: dopamine hypothesis
  • Structural brain abnormalities: enlarged ventricles
• What is the concordance rate for schizophrenia in identical twins according to Gottesman (1991)?

  48%
• What does the dopamine hypothesis suggest?

  Symptoms are due to dopamine imbalance
• What are the side effects of typical antipsychotics?

  Dry mouth, constipation, confusion
• What is the main difference between typical and atypical antipsychotics?

  Atypical address negative symptoms too
• What are the psychological treatments for schizophrenia?

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Family therapy
  • Token economies
• What does CBT aim to do for schizophrenia patients?

  Identify and challenge irrational beliefs
• What is the goal of family therapy in treating schizophrenia?

  Improve the home situation and reduce relapse
• What is the purpose of token economies in schizophrenia treatment?

  Manage behavior through positive reinforcement
• What is the interactionist approach to schizophrenia?

  Combines biological and psychological factors
• What is the diathesis-stress model in schizophrenia?

  • Genetic vulnerability (diathesis)
  • Environmental stressors trigger the disorder
• What did Tanari's study find about children of schizophrenic mothers?

  5.8% develop schizophrenia in healthy families
• What is the significance of the interactionist approach in treating schizophrenia?

  Addresses both biological and psychological causes
• What are the limitations of drug therapies for schizophrenia?

  They may only suppress symptoms
• What are the advantages of combining drug therapies with psychological treatments?

  • Reduces severity of symptoms
  • Allows engagement in psychological therapies
• What is the main goal of psychological treatments for schizophrenia?

  To empower sufferers to control their disorder
• What is the role of the therapist in CBT for schizophrenia?

  To challenge and dispute irrational beliefs
• How does family therapy differ from individual therapy for schizophrenia?

  It focuses on the entire family's behavior
• What is the effectiveness of token economies in managing schizophrenia?

  Improves adaptive behavior
• What are the ethical concerns regarding token economies?

  They may manipulate patients like lab rats
• What is the significance of the interactionist approach in understanding schizophrenia?

  It considers both biological and environmental factors
• What is the general population rate of schizophrenia?

  1%
• What does the term "polygenetic" mean in relation to schizophrenia?

  Involves multiple genes contributing to risk
• How do environmental factors interact with genetic predisposition in schizophrenia?

  They trigger symptoms in predisposed individuals
• What is the role of dopamine in schizophrenia?

  Dopamine imbalance contributes to symptoms
• What is the significance of the findings from the meta-analysis by Lett?

  Drug treatments normalizing dopamine are effective
• How does the interactionist approach improve treatment outcomes for schizophrenia?

  Combines biological and psychological therapies