Question 1

Which of the following best describes the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

The neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia suggests that the disorder is the result of a combination of genetic, biological, and environmental factors that interact during brain development. It is believed that certain abnormalities or disruptions in early brain development can lead to the onset of schizophrenia symptoms later in life.

Question 2

Dr. Knight is trying to diagnosis a patient suffering from what appears to be a form of schizophrenia. The patient appears to have symptoms such as paranoia, fear, and dampened emotional reactions otherwise. Dr. Knight is most likely to conclude that the patient should be classified as suffering from _________________ schizophrenia.

Accepted Answer

The patient is exhibiting negative symptoms such as emotional blunting and lack of motivation, as well as paranoid delusions. This points towards a diagnosis of negative symptoms schizophrenia.

Question 3

What is the best way to describe the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia are behaviors or experiences that should not normally occur, such as delusions, hallucinations, disordered thinking, and unusual behaviors.

Question 4

Research indicates that some people's schizophrenia may result from abnormalities in the brain's receptor sites for what neurotransmitter?

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that individuals with schizophrenia may have excessive dopamine activity in certain areas of the brain, potentially due to abnormalities in the dopamine receptor sites. This excess activity has been linked to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions.

Question 5

Excess dopamine activity in the brains' of individuals with schizophrenia is believed to produce ______________, but not ________________.

Accepted Answer

Excess dopamine activity in the brains' of individuals with schizophrenia is believed to produce positive symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, but not negative symptoms, which include apathy, lack of emotion, and the inability to experience pleasure.

Question 6

According to family, twin, and adoption studies, a person is at greatest risk for developing schizophrenia if he or she has a(n)

Accepted Answer

Twin studies have shown that identical twins have a higher concordance rate (when both twins have the disorder) than nonidentical twins, indicating a genetic component to the disorder. Therefore, having an identical twin diagnosed with schizophrenia puts an individual at the greatest risk for developing the disorder.

Question 7

A neighbor of yours is upset that a community treatment center for mental illness is opening nearby. She is worried that the center will bring dangerous people with schizophrenia into the area. What should you tell her?

Accepted Answer

It is important to educate your neighbor about the misconceptions surrounding mental illness. One fact that should be emphasized is that people with schizophrenia are far more likely to be the victim of crimes than to commit them. This will help to alleviate her concerns about dangerous individuals being brought to the area. Option B is incorrect as it is an extreme statement that is not supported by evidence. Option C is incorrect as it perpetuates unfounded stereotypes and stigmatization against people with mental illness. Option D is incorrect as it suggests that only a specific type of schizophrenia is dangerous, which is not accurate.

Question 8

Which pair consists of negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia refer to the absence or reduction of normal behaviors, such as flat emotions (lack of emotional expression) and low motivation (lack of drive or initiative). Delusions and hallucinations are positive symptoms, which involve the presence of abnormal behaviors or experiences.

Question 9

When psychologists viewed home movies of infants and children who subsequently developed schizophrenia, what did they find?

Accepted Answer

When psychologists viewed home movies of infants and children who subsequently developed schizophrenia, they found unusual motor patterns such as jerky, repeated, and unnecessary arm movements.

Question 10

______ schizophrenia is characterized by delusions that they are being watched, followed, or persecuted in some way.

Accepted Answer

Paranoid schizophrenia is characterized by delusions of persecution and the belief that others are watching or following them. Disorganized schizophrenia involves disorganized speech and behavior, catatonic schizophrenia involves extreme muscular rigidity or hyperactivity, and residual schizophrenia refers to a past history of schizophrenia symptoms without current active symptoms.

Question 11

The ventricles, spaces in the brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid, are typically larger than normal in the brains of individuals suffering from

Accepted Answer

The enlarged ventricles are a common finding in the brains of individuals with schizophrenia. This may be due to abnormalities in brain development or a loss of brain tissue.

Question 12

People with schizophrenia are more likely to have been born during the winter months. One explanation for this phenomenon is that

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that people with schizophrenia are more likely to have been born in the winter and early spring months, suggesting that there may be a seasonal link to the development of this disorder. One possible explanation for this phenomenon is that people born during these months are more likely to have been exposed to viral infections, such as influenza, while still in the womb. This exposure to infection could potentially disrupt normal brain development and increase the risk of developing schizophrenia later in life.

Question 13

Researchers have discovered that the brain volume of individuals with schizophrenia is less than normal. This decrease in brain volume is accompanied a corresponding

Accepted Answer

The decrease in brain volume in individuals with schizophrenia is accompanied by an increase in the size of the ventricles. This enlargement of the ventricles is commonly seen in individuals with schizophrenia and is thought to be caused by the loss of brain tissue. The increase in ventricle size may also be used as a marker for the severity of the illness.

Question 14

According to the authors of your textbook, schizophrenia is most often confused with which other psychological disorder?

Accepted Answer

Schizophrenia is most often confused with dissociative identity disorder (DID) due to the misunderstanding and misrepresentation of symptoms such as hearing voices and having multiple personalities, which are more accurately associated with DID.

Question 15

Janelle is a 23-year old woman who is living happily in the United States. She has a relative who recently developed the symptoms of schizophrenia. Janelle has the highest chance of developing the illness if that relative is

Accepted Answer

Identical twins have the highest concordance rates for schizophrenia, meaning if one twin has the condition, the other is more likely to develop it compared to fraternal twins or other relatives.

Question 16

Some of the symptoms of schizophrenia appear to be caused by excess _______________ activity, and too little _____________ activity.

Accepted Answer

Studies suggest that excess dopamine activity in certain areas of the brain may contribute to positive symptoms of schizophrenia (such as hallucinations and delusions), while too little glutamate activity may contribute to negative symptoms (such as apathy and social withdrawal).

Question 17

Twin studies suggest that schizophrenia

Accepted Answer

Twin studies suggest that schizophrenia is highly heritable but not entirely genetic, as monozygotic (identical) twins only have a 50% concordance rate for the disorder. This suggests that environmental factors also play a role in the development of schizophrenia. Therefore, it is likely caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Question 18

One biological explanation for the symptoms of schizophrenia is the appearance of enlarged _________, which are fluid-filled structures that cushion and protect the brain.

Accepted Answer

The appearance of enlarged ventricles in the brain is a biological explanation for the symptoms of schizophrenia. Ventricles are fluid-filled structures that cushion and protect the brain. Studies have found that individuals with schizophrenia tend to have larger ventricles than those without the disorder. This enlargement may be related to the loss of brain tissue and/or disturbances in the growth and development of certain brain structures.

Question 19

A hospital patient was diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia because she was having both delusions and hallucinations. What type of symptoms are these?

Accepted Answer

Delusions and hallucinations are considered positive symptoms of schizophrenia, as they involve the presence of unusual or distorted perceptions or beliefs. Atypical symptoms are not a recognized category of schizophrenia symptoms, and a mix of positive and negative symptoms would involve both the presence and absence of usual behaviors and experiences.

Question 20

The schizophrenia prodrome refers to

Accepted Answer

The schizophrenia prodrome refers to a collection of mild symptoms that precede the later development of schizophrenia. These symptoms can include social withdrawal, anxiety, and changes in behavior or thinking patterns. Identifying these symptoms can help clinicians intervene earlier and potentially prevent the onset of full-blown schizophrenia.

Quiz 13: Psychological Disorders