SCHIZOPHRENIA EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
What Is Schizophrenia? - 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? - ANSWER--"split personality"
-major source of violence, danger to others
DSM IV Diagnostic Criteria (Schizophrenia) - 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 - 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 - 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 - ANSWER-Catatonic—dominant symptoms relate to
decreased or increased motor activity
Waxy Flexibility - 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 - ANSWER-Disorganized—speech and behavior are
disorganized; flat or inappropriate affect
Paranoid Schizophrenia - ANSWER-Paranoid—delusions are especially prominent;
paranoid ideation; auditory hallucinations
Residual Schizophrenia - ANSWER-Residual—has history of schizophrenia, *but* no
longer meets criteria; typically, mostly negative symptoms remain
Undifferentiated Schizophrenia - ANSWER-Undifferentiated: Criteria for sub-types
*not* met
Most common type of schizophrenia - ANSWER--Paranoid
MEDICAL DISORDERS THAT MAY
MASQUERADE AS MENTAL DISORDERS - 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 .
Related Diagnoses or "Rule outs" - ANSWER-*Delusional disorder*—prominent
delusions, usually *non-bizarre*, without other features of psychosis (look normal,
speak normally, & behave normally).
*Capgras Syndrome*—belief that others have been replaced with imposters; or may
be unable to recognize self in mirror.
*Brief/reactive psychosis*—acute onset of apparent schizophrenia, brief duration.
WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
What Is Schizophrenia? - 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? - ANSWER--"split personality"
-major source of violence, danger to others
DSM IV Diagnostic Criteria (Schizophrenia) - 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 - 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 - 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 - ANSWER-Catatonic—dominant symptoms relate to
decreased or increased motor activity
Waxy Flexibility - 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 - ANSWER-Disorganized—speech and behavior are
disorganized; flat or inappropriate affect
Paranoid Schizophrenia - ANSWER-Paranoid—delusions are especially prominent;
paranoid ideation; auditory hallucinations
Residual Schizophrenia - ANSWER-Residual—has history of schizophrenia, *but* no
longer meets criteria; typically, mostly negative symptoms remain
Undifferentiated Schizophrenia - ANSWER-Undifferentiated: Criteria for sub-types
*not* met
Most common type of schizophrenia - ANSWER--Paranoid
MEDICAL DISORDERS THAT MAY
MASQUERADE AS MENTAL DISORDERS - 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 .
Related Diagnoses or "Rule outs" - ANSWER-*Delusional disorder*—prominent
delusions, usually *non-bizarre*, without other features of psychosis (look normal,
speak normally, & behave normally).
*Capgras Syndrome*—belief that others have been replaced with imposters; or may
be unable to recognize self in mirror.
*Brief/reactive psychosis*—acute onset of apparent schizophrenia, brief duration.
