PSYC MODULE 8 (SCHIZOPHRENIA)
QUESTIONS EXAM #2 WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Families of schizophrenic individuals - ANSWER-Argue that dysfunctional families are
not the cause of Schizophrenia, but rather the result of having a family member with the
illness
Depression and Suicide in Schizophrenia - ANSWER--~25% of schizophrenic patients
experience depression
-High incidence of suicide attempts (20%)
-Schizophrenia is the leading cause of premature death in patients with schizophrenia
Cognitive dysfunction - ANSWER--Patients with Schizophrenia have cognitive
impairment
--Memory, attention, and executive function are affected
Relapse - ANSWER-Nonadherence to meds and exposure to significant stressors are
the most common causes of relapse which occurs in 80% of patients within 5 years
Stress - ANSWER-Because of their economic and social status, many individuals with
Schizophrenia routinely face major stressors
Substance abuse in people with Schizophrenia - ANSWER-Substance abuse is the most
common comorbid psychiatric condition associated with Schizophrenia
Work - ANSWER-The lack of work, the inability to work, and the lack of a desire to work
Psychosis-induced polydipsia - ANSWER--Compulsive water-drinking
-Major concern is hyponatremia
--Hyponatremia causes lightheadedness, weakness, lethargy, muscle cramps, N/V,
confusion, convulsions, and coma
Continuum of Care for people with Schizophrenia - ANSWER--Acute symptoms - short-
term hospitalization
-Treatment-resistant -- long-term hospitalization
-Stable but chronic - day treatment
-Some level of supervision needed -- if family is unable, supportive housing including
foster care, a board and care home, or a nursing home
Psychotherapeutic Management - ANSWER-Aimed at helping patients become stronger
than their symptoms
Nurse-patient relationship - ANSWER--Supportive therapy, problem solving, and social
skills training that focus on behavior and not meaning, are more helpful.
-Long-term, trusting relationships yield better compliance with meds and better outcomes
with psychological resources
, Psychopharmacology - ANSWER--How a patient responds to an antipsychotic initially
(first 2-4 weeks) is a good predictor of how well a patient will respond to that particular
medication
-Long-acting injectable drugs are effective for patients who do not adhere to drug therapy
Milieu Management - ANSWER-Low-intensity, calm environments benefit patients with
Schizophrenia
Delusional disorder - ANSWER--Delusion persists for at least 1 month
-The patients have never met the criteria for Schizophrenia
-The behavior of these patients is relatively normal except in relation to their delusions
-If mood episodes have occurred concurrently with delusions, their total duration has
been relatively brief
-The symptoms are not the direct result of a substance-induced or medical condition
-If hallucinations are present, they are not prominent
Brief Psychotic Disorder - ANSWER--All psychotic disturbances that last less than 1
month and are not related to a mood disorder, a general medical condition, or a
substance induced disorder
-At least one of the following must be present:
--Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, or grossly disorganized or catatonic
behavior
Subjective Symptoms - Alterations of affect - ANSWER--Inappropriate, blunted, flattened,
or labile affect
--Labile - emotional tone changes quickly
-Apathy
--A lack of concern or interest
-Ambivalence
-Overreaction
-Anhedonia
Schizophrenia Biochemical theories - ANSWER-Dopamine hypothesis - excessive
dopaminergic activity in limbic areas causes acute positive symptoms of Schizophrenia
--Drugs that increase dopamine (dopaminergics) can cause psychotic symptoms
--Drugs that block dopamine (antipsychotics) alleviate psychotic symptoms
Smoking and schizophrenia - ANSWER-Positive effects of smoking on Schizophrenia
(caused by the stimulation of nicotinic receptors in the brain releasing more dopamine)
-Improved cognition
-Improved negative symptoms
-Protective effects against -Extrapyramidal side effects (EPSEs)
-Improved auditory gating
-Improved memory and attention
Neurostructural Theories - ANSWER--Schizophrenia, particularly negative symptoms,
are the result of pathoanatomy
--Enlarged ventricles in brain
--Brain atrophy
QUESTIONS EXAM #2 WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Families of schizophrenic individuals - ANSWER-Argue that dysfunctional families are
not the cause of Schizophrenia, but rather the result of having a family member with the
illness
Depression and Suicide in Schizophrenia - ANSWER--~25% of schizophrenic patients
experience depression
-High incidence of suicide attempts (20%)
-Schizophrenia is the leading cause of premature death in patients with schizophrenia
Cognitive dysfunction - ANSWER--Patients with Schizophrenia have cognitive
impairment
--Memory, attention, and executive function are affected
Relapse - ANSWER-Nonadherence to meds and exposure to significant stressors are
the most common causes of relapse which occurs in 80% of patients within 5 years
Stress - ANSWER-Because of their economic and social status, many individuals with
Schizophrenia routinely face major stressors
Substance abuse in people with Schizophrenia - ANSWER-Substance abuse is the most
common comorbid psychiatric condition associated with Schizophrenia
Work - ANSWER-The lack of work, the inability to work, and the lack of a desire to work
Psychosis-induced polydipsia - ANSWER--Compulsive water-drinking
-Major concern is hyponatremia
--Hyponatremia causes lightheadedness, weakness, lethargy, muscle cramps, N/V,
confusion, convulsions, and coma
Continuum of Care for people with Schizophrenia - ANSWER--Acute symptoms - short-
term hospitalization
-Treatment-resistant -- long-term hospitalization
-Stable but chronic - day treatment
-Some level of supervision needed -- if family is unable, supportive housing including
foster care, a board and care home, or a nursing home
Psychotherapeutic Management - ANSWER-Aimed at helping patients become stronger
than their symptoms
Nurse-patient relationship - ANSWER--Supportive therapy, problem solving, and social
skills training that focus on behavior and not meaning, are more helpful.
-Long-term, trusting relationships yield better compliance with meds and better outcomes
with psychological resources
, Psychopharmacology - ANSWER--How a patient responds to an antipsychotic initially
(first 2-4 weeks) is a good predictor of how well a patient will respond to that particular
medication
-Long-acting injectable drugs are effective for patients who do not adhere to drug therapy
Milieu Management - ANSWER-Low-intensity, calm environments benefit patients with
Schizophrenia
Delusional disorder - ANSWER--Delusion persists for at least 1 month
-The patients have never met the criteria for Schizophrenia
-The behavior of these patients is relatively normal except in relation to their delusions
-If mood episodes have occurred concurrently with delusions, their total duration has
been relatively brief
-The symptoms are not the direct result of a substance-induced or medical condition
-If hallucinations are present, they are not prominent
Brief Psychotic Disorder - ANSWER--All psychotic disturbances that last less than 1
month and are not related to a mood disorder, a general medical condition, or a
substance induced disorder
-At least one of the following must be present:
--Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, or grossly disorganized or catatonic
behavior
Subjective Symptoms - Alterations of affect - ANSWER--Inappropriate, blunted, flattened,
or labile affect
--Labile - emotional tone changes quickly
-Apathy
--A lack of concern or interest
-Ambivalence
-Overreaction
-Anhedonia
Schizophrenia Biochemical theories - ANSWER-Dopamine hypothesis - excessive
dopaminergic activity in limbic areas causes acute positive symptoms of Schizophrenia
--Drugs that increase dopamine (dopaminergics) can cause psychotic symptoms
--Drugs that block dopamine (antipsychotics) alleviate psychotic symptoms
Smoking and schizophrenia - ANSWER-Positive effects of smoking on Schizophrenia
(caused by the stimulation of nicotinic receptors in the brain releasing more dopamine)
-Improved cognition
-Improved negative symptoms
-Protective effects against -Extrapyramidal side effects (EPSEs)
-Improved auditory gating
-Improved memory and attention
Neurostructural Theories - ANSWER--Schizophrenia, particularly negative symptoms,
are the result of pathoanatomy
--Enlarged ventricles in brain
--Brain atrophy
