Schizophrenia

• Definition of schizophrenia 


  Schizophrenia is a mental illness that is characterised by a profound disruption of cognition and emotion, which can affect thought, language and perception/ sense of self
• What are some feat of schizophrenia?

  Found in any nation at rate of 1.4-4.6% per 1000. 1/4 of those who have sz episode never have another. 1/4 have Sz episodes without breaks. 50% have periods of recovery and periods of symptoms.
• What are positive symptoms?

  1st rank- Changes in thoughts and feelings that are additional behaviours.
• What are negative symptom?

  2nd rank- Normal functioning is not present.
• What are positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

  Hallucinations, delusions and thought disorders.
• Describe schizophrenic hallucinations.


  Seeing or hearing things that are not there. Often harsh and critical.
• Describe schizophrenic delusions.


  False beliefs. Paranoid delusions: someone trying to mislead, manipulate or kill them. Delusions of grandeur: believes they are in a prominent position of power, eg king or superhero. Also take form of sufferer believing unrelated things are directly related to them.
• Describe schizophrenic thought disorders.

  Loss of concentration at work. Muddled thinking. Thought insertion: A person thinks their own thoughts were put there by someone else. Thought broadcasting: thinking others can hear their thoughts.
• What are negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

  Lack of energy and apathy, social withdrawal, flatness of emotions, not caring for one’s self.
• What cognitive symptoms are present in schizophrenia?

  Poor working memory, poor executive function, difficulty concentrating, poor attention span, difficulty understanding others behaviours and intentions.