Schizophrenia Overview and Treatment

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a positive symptom of schizophrenia?

Avolition (correct)
Speech poverty
Hallucinations
Delusions

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Difficulty maintaining goal-directed behavior
Avolition
Delusions of grandeur (correct)
Speech poverty

Schizophrenia is typically diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 15 and 35.

True (A)

What are the two main types of symptoms associated with schizophrenia?

Positive and negative symptoms Signup and view all the answers

Inter-rater reliability refers to the consistency of a clinician's diagnosis over time.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

__________ are false beliefs that seem real to the individual suffering from schizophrenia, but are not true in reality.

Delusions Signup and view all the answers

_____ bias is an issue affecting the reliability of diagnosis, potentially leading to over-diagnosis of schizophrenia in certain ethnic groups.

Cultural Signup and view all the answers

Match the following symptoms of schizophrenia with their corresponding category:

Hallucinations = Positive Avolition = Negative Delusions = Positive Speech poverty = Negative Signup and view all the answers

Describe the concept of speech poverty as a negative symptom of schizophrenia.

Speech poverty refers to a significant reduction in the quantity or quality of speech, which may include reduced fluency, simplified language, and delayed verbal responses. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following concepts with their definitions:

Avolition = Difficulty initiating and maintaining goal-directed behavior Speech poverty = Significant reduction in quantity or quality of speech Delusions of grandeur = Exaggerated beliefs about one's importance or abilities Test-retest reliability = Consistency of diagnosis made by the same clinician on separate occasions Inter-rater reliability = Consistency of diagnosis between different clinicians for the same patient Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between hallucinations and delusions?

Hallucinations are false perceptions of sensory stimuli, while delusions are false beliefs. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a factor that can contribute to cultural bias in schizophrenia diagnosis?

Use of standardized assessment tools across different cultures (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a type of hallucination experienced by individuals with schizophrenia?

Somatic (B) Signup and view all the answers

Reliability in schizophrenia diagnosis refers to the accuracy of the diagnosis.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

The dopamine hypothesis suggests that an excess of dopamine in certain brain regions is linked to schizophrenia.

True (A) Signup and view all the answers

Explain how cultural bias can affect the inter-rater reliability of schizophrenia diagnosis.

Cultural bias can affect inter-rater reliability because clinicians from different cultural backgrounds may interpret the same symptoms differently, potentially leading to inconsistent diagnoses. Signup and view all the answers

People of _____ descent are often over-diagnosed with schizophrenia, potentially due to cultural bias in diagnosis.

Afro-Caribbean Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a candidate gene associated with schizophrenia?

All of the above (D) Signup and view all the answers

The dopamine hypothesis suggests that schizophrenia is caused by an excess of dopamine activity in the brain.

True (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins in terms of genetic similarity?

MZ twins share 100% of their genes, while DZ twins share approximately 50%. Signup and view all the answers

The COMT gene controls an enzyme that breaks down ______.

dopamine Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their correct definitions:

Concordance rate = The percentage of twin pairs in a study where both twins have the disorder Candidate gene = A gene that is thought to increase the risk of developing schizophrenia Polygenetic explanation = An explanation that suggests multiple genes contribute to the development of a disorder Meta-analysis = A statistical technique combining data from multiple studies to assess the overall effect Signup and view all the answers

Gottesman's (1991) review of over 40 twin studies indicated a higher concordance rate for DZ twins than for MZ twins, suggesting a strong genetic influence on schizophrenia.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

Explain how a low activity variant of the COMT gene could contribute to symptoms of schizophrenia.

A low activity variant of the COMT gene would lead to reduced breakdown of dopamine, resulting in increased dopamine levels. Excess dopamine activity has been linked to hallucinations, a symptom often experienced by individuals with schizophrenia. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a potential limitation of twin studies in researching the genetic basis of schizophrenia?

Small sample sizes are frequently used (D) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Genetic Basis of Schizophrenia

The theory that schizophrenia is inherited through faulty genes from parents.

COMT Gene

A candidate gene on chromosome 22 that affects dopamine breakdown in schizophrenia.