Deck 52: Epidemiology of Schizophrenia

Question 1

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia refer to abnormal and sometimes bizarre psychotic thoughts and behaviors including auditory and visual hallucinations and "delusions of grandeur" and "delusions of persecution."

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Negative symptoms include a flat affect of expression and speech, lack of pleasure in ordinary life, inability to carry out planned activities, and failure to speak and communicate with others.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Suicide is the leading cause of premature death among patients with schizophrenia.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The relative risk of suicide is increased approximately 13-fold among patients with schizophrenia compared to normal controls.

Question 5

The greatest risk of suicide among patients with schizophrenia is early in the course of disease.

Question 6

Schizophrenia is associated with decreased dopamine activity.

Question 7

Administration of phencyclidine (PCP) induces a spectrum of psychotic symptoms (disorganized thinking, hallucinations and delusions, flat affect, and social withdrawal) that characterize patients with schizophrenia.

Question 8

PCP appears to increase dopaminergic activity in the brain by blocking the neurotransmitter, glutamate.

Question 9

Marijuana use does not increase the risk of developing schizophrenia.

Question 10

Certain maternal infections have been found to increase the risk of developing schizophrenia in the offspring.

Question 11

Annual incidence rates of schizophrenia vary widely among populations about a median rate of approximately:

A) 5 per 100,000.
B) 10 per 100,000.
C) 15 per 100,000.
D) 20 per 100,000.

Question 12

Standardized all-cause mortality ratios (SMR) for schizophrenia vary widely among populations about a median value of approximately:

A) 1.5.
B) 2.0.
C) 2.6.
D) 3.0.

Question 13

The cumulative risk of committing suicide within 20 years of diagnosis of schizophrenia is approximately:

A) 0-1%.
B) 2-3%.
C) 4-5%.
D) 6-7%.

Question 14

What percentage of patients who develop schizophrenia either fully recover or recover sufficiently to lead relative normal and productive lives?

A) 0-10%
B) 10-20%
C) 20-30%
D) 30-40%
E) More than 40%

Question 15

Risk factors for schizophrenia include all of the following except:

A) marijuana use.
B) exposure to Toxoplasmosis gondii in utero.
C) genetic predisposition.
D) paternal age less than 25 years at time of birth.

Question 16

The pathogenesis of schizophrenia is associated with which of the following combinations of neurotransmitters?

A) High dopamine and high glutamate
B) High dopamine and low glutamate
C) Low dopamine and high glutamate
D) Low dopamine and low glutamate.

Question 17

Mutant forms of all of the following genes predispose to Schizophrenia except:

A) Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT).
B) Neuregulin 1 (NRG1).
C) Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor-3 (GRM3).
D) alpha-synuclein (SNCA).

Question 18

All of the following have been found to increase the risk of developing Schizophrenia except:

A) rheumatoid arthritis.
B) maternal influenza in utero.
C) obstetric complications in utero.
D) celiac disease.

Question 19

Characterize the global distribution of schizophrenia.

Question 20

Discuss the role of neurotransmitters in schizophrenia.

Question 21

Discuss findings of studies of marijuana use and schizophrenia.

Question 22

Discuss findings of studies of in utero exposures and the development of schizophrenia.

Question 23

Discuss the genetics of schizophrenia.

Question 24

Discuss the role of autoimmune conditions in the development of schizophrenia.

Question 25

Characterize the case fatality and risk of suicide among patients with schizophrenia.

Question 26

Discuss strategies for the treatment of schizophrenia.