Schizophrenia Exam Questions with 100%
Correct Answers
What Is Schizophrenia? Correct Answer -Disorder characterized by psychotic
symptoms which are usually persistent (>6 mos.) or at least recurrent
-significant impairment in functioning
-major cause of inpatient care episodes
What isn't Schizophrenia? Correct Answer -"split personality"
-major source of violence, danger to others
DSM IV Diagnostic Criteria (Schizophrenia) Correct Answer *A*. Characteristic
symptoms: *2 or more of the following*, each *present for a significant portion of time*
during a 1 month period:
• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Disorganized speech
• Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
• Negative symptoms
-*Only one* of these symptoms is required *if* delusions are bizarre or hallucinations
consist of a voice keeping a running commentary
*B*. Sufficient to *cause social/occupational dysfunction*
*C*. Duration: Continuous signs of disturbance for at least *6 months* which may
include a prodromal period or residual period
*D*. Exclusion of schizoaffective and mood disorders, substance-induced psychosis, or
psychosis due to a medical condition
Schizoaffective Disorder Correct Answer -Thought disorder *+* Mood disorder
-An uninterrupted period of illness during which, at some time, there is a Major
Depressive, Manic, or Mixed Episode *concurrent with symptoms that meet Criterion A
for Schizophrenia*
Schizophreniform Disorder Correct Answer -Meets most criteria for schizophrenia but
episode lasts *less than 6 months*
-Impaired social & occupational functioning are *not* required
, Note: If symptoms persist beyond a six month period, the diagnosis is changed to
schizophrenia
Catatonic Schizophrenia Correct Answer Catatonic—dominant symptoms relate to
decreased or increased motor activity
Waxy Flexibility Correct Answer -A psychomotor *symptom of catatonic schizophrenia*
-Leads to a decreased response to stimuli and a *tendency to remain in an immobile
posture*.
Disorganized Schizophrenia Correct Answer Disorganized—speech and behavior are
disorganized; flat or inappropriate affect
Paranoid Schizophrenia Correct Answer Paranoid—delusions are especially prominent;
paranoid ideation; auditory hallucinations
Residual Schizophrenia Correct Answer Residual—has history of schizophrenia, *but*
no longer meets criteria; typically, mostly negative symptoms remain
Undifferentiated Schizophrenia Correct Answer Undifferentiated: Criteria for sub-types
*not* met
Most common type of schizophrenia Correct Answer -Paranoid
MEDICAL DISORDERS THAT MAY
MASQUERADE AS MENTAL DISORDERS Correct Answer -One must always rule out
physical causes for what might appear to be mental illness; this is esp. true if the onset
is acute (over hours or days) and/or there is no prior history of mental illness.
-Head Injury
-Low sodium (hyponatremia)
-Liver disease
-Pancreatitis
-Acute Intermittent Porphyria Infection (mimics it).
-Heavy Metal Poisoning (Mercury in tuna)
-Hyperthyroidism —mimics mania, anxiety, lability; look for increased pulse, tremor,
sweating, weight loss, visual disturbances.
-Digitalis toxicity may present with unusually well-formed visual hallucinations of "small
people".
-Anticholinergic toxicity Many OTC and psychotropic meds have ACh activity.
-Other drug reactions (bath salts)
-Drug abuse/intoxication .
Correct Answers
What Is Schizophrenia? Correct Answer -Disorder characterized by psychotic
symptoms which are usually persistent (>6 mos.) or at least recurrent
-significant impairment in functioning
-major cause of inpatient care episodes
What isn't Schizophrenia? Correct Answer -"split personality"
-major source of violence, danger to others
DSM IV Diagnostic Criteria (Schizophrenia) Correct Answer *A*. Characteristic
symptoms: *2 or more of the following*, each *present for a significant portion of time*
during a 1 month period:
• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Disorganized speech
• Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
• Negative symptoms
-*Only one* of these symptoms is required *if* delusions are bizarre or hallucinations
consist of a voice keeping a running commentary
*B*. Sufficient to *cause social/occupational dysfunction*
*C*. Duration: Continuous signs of disturbance for at least *6 months* which may
include a prodromal period or residual period
*D*. Exclusion of schizoaffective and mood disorders, substance-induced psychosis, or
psychosis due to a medical condition
Schizoaffective Disorder Correct Answer -Thought disorder *+* Mood disorder
-An uninterrupted period of illness during which, at some time, there is a Major
Depressive, Manic, or Mixed Episode *concurrent with symptoms that meet Criterion A
for Schizophrenia*
Schizophreniform Disorder Correct Answer -Meets most criteria for schizophrenia but
episode lasts *less than 6 months*
-Impaired social & occupational functioning are *not* required
, Note: If symptoms persist beyond a six month period, the diagnosis is changed to
schizophrenia
Catatonic Schizophrenia Correct Answer Catatonic—dominant symptoms relate to
decreased or increased motor activity
Waxy Flexibility Correct Answer -A psychomotor *symptom of catatonic schizophrenia*
-Leads to a decreased response to stimuli and a *tendency to remain in an immobile
posture*.
Disorganized Schizophrenia Correct Answer Disorganized—speech and behavior are
disorganized; flat or inappropriate affect
Paranoid Schizophrenia Correct Answer Paranoid—delusions are especially prominent;
paranoid ideation; auditory hallucinations
Residual Schizophrenia Correct Answer Residual—has history of schizophrenia, *but*
no longer meets criteria; typically, mostly negative symptoms remain
Undifferentiated Schizophrenia Correct Answer Undifferentiated: Criteria for sub-types
*not* met
Most common type of schizophrenia Correct Answer -Paranoid
MEDICAL DISORDERS THAT MAY
MASQUERADE AS MENTAL DISORDERS Correct Answer -One must always rule out
physical causes for what might appear to be mental illness; this is esp. true if the onset
is acute (over hours or days) and/or there is no prior history of mental illness.
-Head Injury
-Low sodium (hyponatremia)
-Liver disease
-Pancreatitis
-Acute Intermittent Porphyria Infection (mimics it).
-Heavy Metal Poisoning (Mercury in tuna)
-Hyperthyroidism —mimics mania, anxiety, lability; look for increased pulse, tremor,
sweating, weight loss, visual disturbances.
-Digitalis toxicity may present with unusually well-formed visual hallucinations of "small
people".
-Anticholinergic toxicity Many OTC and psychotropic meds have ACh activity.
-Other drug reactions (bath salts)
-Drug abuse/intoxication .
