Clinical psychologyLesson 6 of 7 in the course Psychological Disorders

Schizophrenia: Symptoms, Risk, Early Detection, and Forensic Context

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Schizophrenia is a serious psychological disorder that affects thought, perception, emotion, and behavior. This lesson introduces the disorder, clears up a common misconception, and explains its major symptom groups and effects on daily life.

Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder: a disorder in which a person’s thoughts, perceptions, or behaviors are impaired in ways that can make ordinary functioning difficult. The name was coined by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911. Its Greek roots refer to a “splitting” of psychic functions, but schizophrenia does not mean having a split personality. It is not the same disorder as dissociative identity disorder.

All flashcards

What is schizophrenia?
A psychotic disorder characterized by major disturbances in thought, perception, emotion, and behavior that can interfere with ordinary functioning.
What is the difference between a hallucination and a delusion?
A hallucination is a perception without external stimulation; a delusion is a firmly held belief contrary to reality that persists despite contradictory evidence.
What are negative symptoms?
Noticeable reductions or absences in typical behavior, emotion, or drive, such as diminished emotional expression, avolition, alogia, asociality, and anhedonia.
What does avolition mean?
A reduced motivation to begin and carry out self-initiated meaningful activities, sometimes including basic tasks such as bathing or grooming.
What is catatonic behavior?
A pattern of markedly unusual motor behavior, which may include holding a rigid posture for a long time or having very little movement and speech.

Quiz questions

  1. Which statement accurately distinguishes schizophrenia from dissociative identity disorder?Answer: Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder, not a disorder of separate identities.
  2. Which type of hallucination is most common in schizophrenia?Answer: Auditory hallucinations, such as hearing voices.
  3. In an adoption study, 5 of 47 adoptees whose biological mothers had schizophrenia were later diagnosed, compared with none of 50 control adoptees. What does this finding support?Answer: A genetic contribution to schizophrenia, without proving that genes act alone.
  4. Which statement best describes the relationship between marijuana use and schizophrenia risk?Answer: Use is associated with increased risk, especially with frequent use, but is neither necessary nor sufficient.
  5. What is a central role of forensic psychologists?Answer: Applying psychological knowledge to assessment and treatment involving the legal system.

Based on Psychology 2e by Rose M. Spielman, William J. Jenkins, Marilyn D. Lovett (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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