Schizophrenia 1st part (most prevalent disorder)

Psychosis

• Extreme reality distortion
• Characterized by delusions and hallucinations
• Delusions: fixed beliefs despite contradictory evidence (e.g., persecution, reference, influence, Cotard's, Capgras)
• Hallucinations: sensory experiences without external stimuli (e.g., auditory, visual, olfactory, gustatory)
• Diagnosed when delusions and thought processes are extremely bizarre and excessive.

Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorders

• A range of conditions, including:
  • Schizotypal personality disorder
  • Delusional disorder
  • Brief psychotic episode
  • Schizophreniform disorder
  • Schizophrenia (most prevalent), also called schizoaffective disorder

Schizophrenia

• Diagnosis Criteria:
  • Presence of both positive and negative symptoms of psychosis, for at least 6 months.
  • Florid symptoms (hallucinations and delusions) for at least one month.
  • Onset typically in teens and young adulthood.
• Heterogeneity: Varied symptoms and levels of functioning in individuals.
• Positive Symptoms:
  • Delusions: Fixed false beliefs resistant to counterarguments; types include persecution, reference, influence, Cotard's, and Capgras
  • Hallucinations: Sensory experiences without external cause (auditory most common, followed by visual, olfactory, and gustatory)
  • Disorganized speech: Derailment, tangential thinking, incoherence, neologisms (new words), and clang associations (rhyming words)
  • Disorganized behavior: Childlike silliness, unpredictable agitation, catatonic motor behavior (waxy flexibility, inability to move)
• Negative Symptoms (Criterion A):
  • Flat affect: Lack of emotional expression
  • Avolition: Lack of motivation
  • Alogia: Poor speech or lack of content
  • Anhedonia: Inability to experience pleasure
  • Asociality: Reduced social interaction
• Criterion B: Social/occupational impairment (education, employment, social relationships)
• Criterion C: Symptoms persisting for at least 6 months.

Clinical Picture of Schizophrenia

• Prevalence: Relatively low (approximately 1%)
• Onset: Often gradual (prodromal period)
• Gender Differences: Men tend to develop it earlier (late teens), and women in their mid-20's.
• Course: Variable, ranging from single episode and recovery to multiple episodes and remissions, and chronic progressive worsening.
• Insight: Variable levels of understanding of their illness
• Cultural Influences: The rates may vary across different cultures
• Prognosis: Reduced life expectancy (approximately 10 years less), higher risk of suicide and co-occurring conditions (such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic issues, and diabetes) and substance abuse (especially cannabis)

Explore the complexities of psychosis and schizophrenia in this quiz. Delve into the symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and the spectrum of related disorders. Test your knowledge on delusions, hallucinations, and the nuances of these mental health conditions.