EXAM 2 SCHIZOPHRENIA ASSESSMENT
& INTERVENTION QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
avolition is - ANSWER-a lack of initiative or motivation. In schizophrenia, when avolition
is so severe as to prevent a person from doing ordinary things such as work, hobbies,
reading, or taking care of oneself - it is considered a "negative" symptom of the
condition
in schizophrenia patients, level of functioning is markedly below the level prior to the
onset in regard to - ANSWER-work, interpersonal relations, & self-care
continuous signs of disturbance persist for - ANSWER-at least 6 months - at least one
month of symptoms, & may include prodromal or residual periods
must rule out the following disorders - ANSWER-schizoaffective d/o, depressive d/o, &
bipolar d/o with psychotic features
schizophrenia cannot - ANSWER-be attributed to any physiological effects of a
substance (drug abuse or medication side effects), or another medical condition
be wary in - ANSWER-developmental h/o in children with an autism spectrum d/o or a
communication d/o (schizophrenia dx req's prominent delusions or hallucinations for >/=
1 month)
positive symptoms : excess of normal functions - ANSWER-delusions (fixed, false
beliefs) = grandiose, nihilistic, persecutory, & somatic
another positive symptom - ANSWER-hallucinations (perceptual experiences) can
involve any of the 5 senses, usually auditory or visual
another positive symptom of schizophrenia - ANSWER-disorganization
negative symptoms - ANSWER-affective blunting, alogia, avolition, anhedonia, &
ambivalence
affective blunting - ANSWER-reduced range of emotion
alogia - ANSWER-reduced fluency and productivity of language and thought
avolition - ANSWER-withdrawal and inability to initiate and persist in goal directed
behavior
anhedonia - ANSWER-inability to experience pleasure
ambivalence - ANSWER-concurrent experience of opposite feelings, making it
impossible to make a decision
, neurocognition - ANSWER-memory (short and long term), vigilance (sustained
attention), verbal fluency (ability to generate new words), & executive functioning
executive functioning - ANSWER-volition, planning, purposeful action, & self-monitoring
behavior
impaired in schizophrenia - ANSWER-memory, vigilance, executive functioning,
disorganized speech (verbal fluency), disorganized behavior, & disorganized thinking
"disorganized symptoms" neurocognitive impairments - ANSWER-confused speech and
thinking patterns, disorganized behavior
examples of disorganized thinking - ANSWER-echolalia (repetition of words),
circumstantially, loose associations, tangentially, flight of ideas (change topics), & word
salad
circumstantially - ANSWER-delay in reaching a point of a communication because of
unnecessary and tedious details
factors associated with a positive prognosis - ANSWER-good premorbid adjustment,
later age onset, being female, abrupt onset precipitated by a stressful event, associated
with mood disturbance, good inter-episode functioning, & brief duration of active phase
symptoms
more factors associated with a positive prognosis - ANSWER-minimal residual
symtpoms, absence of structural brain abnormalities, normal neurological functioning,
family hx of mood disorder, & no family hx of schizophrenia
nature of the disorder - ANSWER-behaviors may be both confusing & frightening
less and less able - ANSWER-to care for basic needs
functioning at school or work - ANSWER-deteriorates
dependence on family & friends - ANSWER-increases
treatment focuses on - ANSWER-alleviation of symptoms
stabilization period - ANSWER-symptoms become less acute but may be present,
treatment is intense, medication regimens are established, patients and families begin
to adjust, socialization begins to increase, & rehabilitation begins
maintenance and recovery period - ANSWER-focuses on regaining the previous level of
functioning and quality of life, medication management, & family support and
involvement
factors triggering relapse - ANSWER-discontinuation ("noncompliance") of medication
regimen, degree of impairment in cognition and coping, accessibility of community
& INTERVENTION QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
avolition is - ANSWER-a lack of initiative or motivation. In schizophrenia, when avolition
is so severe as to prevent a person from doing ordinary things such as work, hobbies,
reading, or taking care of oneself - it is considered a "negative" symptom of the
condition
in schizophrenia patients, level of functioning is markedly below the level prior to the
onset in regard to - ANSWER-work, interpersonal relations, & self-care
continuous signs of disturbance persist for - ANSWER-at least 6 months - at least one
month of symptoms, & may include prodromal or residual periods
must rule out the following disorders - ANSWER-schizoaffective d/o, depressive d/o, &
bipolar d/o with psychotic features
schizophrenia cannot - ANSWER-be attributed to any physiological effects of a
substance (drug abuse or medication side effects), or another medical condition
be wary in - ANSWER-developmental h/o in children with an autism spectrum d/o or a
communication d/o (schizophrenia dx req's prominent delusions or hallucinations for >/=
1 month)
positive symptoms : excess of normal functions - ANSWER-delusions (fixed, false
beliefs) = grandiose, nihilistic, persecutory, & somatic
another positive symptom - ANSWER-hallucinations (perceptual experiences) can
involve any of the 5 senses, usually auditory or visual
another positive symptom of schizophrenia - ANSWER-disorganization
negative symptoms - ANSWER-affective blunting, alogia, avolition, anhedonia, &
ambivalence
affective blunting - ANSWER-reduced range of emotion
alogia - ANSWER-reduced fluency and productivity of language and thought
avolition - ANSWER-withdrawal and inability to initiate and persist in goal directed
behavior
anhedonia - ANSWER-inability to experience pleasure
ambivalence - ANSWER-concurrent experience of opposite feelings, making it
impossible to make a decision
, neurocognition - ANSWER-memory (short and long term), vigilance (sustained
attention), verbal fluency (ability to generate new words), & executive functioning
executive functioning - ANSWER-volition, planning, purposeful action, & self-monitoring
behavior
impaired in schizophrenia - ANSWER-memory, vigilance, executive functioning,
disorganized speech (verbal fluency), disorganized behavior, & disorganized thinking
"disorganized symptoms" neurocognitive impairments - ANSWER-confused speech and
thinking patterns, disorganized behavior
examples of disorganized thinking - ANSWER-echolalia (repetition of words),
circumstantially, loose associations, tangentially, flight of ideas (change topics), & word
salad
circumstantially - ANSWER-delay in reaching a point of a communication because of
unnecessary and tedious details
factors associated with a positive prognosis - ANSWER-good premorbid adjustment,
later age onset, being female, abrupt onset precipitated by a stressful event, associated
with mood disturbance, good inter-episode functioning, & brief duration of active phase
symptoms
more factors associated with a positive prognosis - ANSWER-minimal residual
symtpoms, absence of structural brain abnormalities, normal neurological functioning,
family hx of mood disorder, & no family hx of schizophrenia
nature of the disorder - ANSWER-behaviors may be both confusing & frightening
less and less able - ANSWER-to care for basic needs
functioning at school or work - ANSWER-deteriorates
dependence on family & friends - ANSWER-increases
treatment focuses on - ANSWER-alleviation of symptoms
stabilization period - ANSWER-symptoms become less acute but may be present,
treatment is intense, medication regimens are established, patients and families begin
to adjust, socialization begins to increase, & rehabilitation begins
maintenance and recovery period - ANSWER-focuses on regaining the previous level of
functioning and quality of life, medication management, & family support and
involvement
factors triggering relapse - ANSWER-discontinuation ("noncompliance") of medication
regimen, degree of impairment in cognition and coping, accessibility of community
