Question 1

Conventional antipsychotic drugs are referred to as _____ drugs because of their undesirable movement-related side effects.

Accepted Answer

Conventional antipsychotic drugs are referred to as neuroleptic drugs due to their potential to cause undesirable movement-related side effects, such as tardive dyskinesia.

Question 2

The _____ requires that people with mental disorders receive treatment in their communities rather than being transported to institutions far from home.

Accepted Answer

The Community Mental Health Act, signed into law in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy, aimed to transform the way mental health care was delivered in the United States. It emphasized the development of community mental health centers to provide local treatment and prevent the need for institutionalization far from patients' homes.

Question 3

The discovery of _____ revolutionized treatment for schizophrenia.

Accepted Answer

Antipsychotic drugs revolutionized the treatment for schizophrenia by effectively managing its symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, thus significantly improving the quality of life for many patients.

Question 4

Most people with schizophrenia who live in poorly supervised or unsupervised settings survive on:

Accepted Answer

Most people with schizophrenia who live in poorly supervised or unsupervised settings often rely on government disability payments for survival. This is because their condition may prevent them from maintaining regular employment, making government assistance a crucial support system.

Question 5

A patient is taking an antipsychotic medication to treat schizophrenia. Which is NOT a known side effect of this drug?

Accepted Answer

Antipsychotic medications, particularly the older, typical antipsychotics, are known for side effects such as Parkinsonian-type symptoms, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and tardive dyskinesia due to their dopamine-blocking effects. Huntington's-type symptoms, characterized by chorea and other movement disorders, are not a typical side effect of antipsychotic medications.

Question 6

After evaluating a patient, you determine that she does not require hospitalization but would benefit from daily supervision and therapy. You also believe she would benefit from training on social skills. Which type of community care would BEST meet the needs of this patient?

Accepted Answer

A day hospital provides daily supervision and therapy without requiring overnight stays, fitting the needs described for the patient, including potential training on social skills.

Question 7

Token economy programs relied on the systematic application of _____ techniques.

Accepted Answer

Token economy programs are based on operant conditioning, where desired behaviors are reinforced with tokens that can be exchanged for various rewards.

Question 8

Your patient is taking a first-generation antipsychotic medication to treat her schizophrenia but she is showing little improvement. What is an appropriate next step?

Accepted Answer

Consider adding a second drug to create a synergistic effect.

Question 9

Which statement is supported by multiple research studies?

Accepted Answer

Antipsychotic drugs are widely recognized and supported by multiple research studies for their effectiveness in reducing symptoms in the majority of patients with schizophrenia. These medications are a cornerstone in the management of schizophrenia, helping to manage hallucinations, delusions, and other symptoms.

Question 10

Of the few psychotherapists who treated patients with schizophrenia before the discovery of antipsychotic drugs, most believed that the first task of therapy was to:

Accepted Answer

Before the discovery of antipsychotic drugs, psychotherapists focusing on schizophrenia often prioritized building trust and a close relationship with their patients. This approach was based on the belief that a therapeutic alliance was crucial for effective treatment, especially in the context of severe mental illness where trust and rapport could be significantly challenged by the symptoms of the disorder.

Question 11

Today, psychosurgery is used only in severe cases of:

Accepted Answer

Psychosurgery is now rarely used and is typically reserved for severe cases of obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression that have not responded to other treatments.

Question 12

Of all people with schizophrenia and other severe mental disorders, _____ percent do not receive any form of treatment.

Accepted Answer

Globally, it is estimated that 40 to 60 percent of people with schizophrenia and other severe mental disorders do not receive any form of treatment. This significant treatment gap is attributed to various factors, including stigma, lack of resources, and inadequate healthcare systems.

Question 13

Research has shown that people with schizophrenia and other severe mental disorders receiving this type of therapy often improve and that they leave the hospital at higher rates than patients in programs that offer primarily custodial care.

Accepted Answer

Milieu therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses the social environment of a hospital or a residential treatment center to positively affect the behavior and attitudes of individuals. It is particularly noted for its effectiveness in treating individuals with severe mental disorders, including schizophrenia, by creating a structured, supportive community environment that promotes healthier interactions and behaviors. This approach contrasts with custodial care, which focuses more on managing and containing patients rather than actively engaging them in their recovery process.

Question 14

The move toward institutionalization of the mentally ill in hospitals rather than asylums began in:

Accepted Answer

The move toward institutionalization of the mentally ill in hospitals rather than asylums began in France, largely due to the efforts of Philippe Pinel in the late 18th century, who advocated for more humane treatment of the mentally ill.

Question 15

Antipsychotic drugs reduce psychotic symptoms, at least in part, because they block excessive activity of neurotransmitters at the brain's _____ receptors.

Accepted Answer

Antipsychotic drugs primarily work by blocking dopamine D-2 receptors, which helps reduce psychotic symptoms by decreasing excessive dopamine activity.

Question 16

A patient taking clozapine to treat his schizophrenia should be told that:

Accepted Answer

Clozapine can cause agranulocytosis, a potentially life-threatening decrease in white blood cells, so regular blood tests are necessary to monitor the patient's blood cell counts.

Question 17

Hospitalized patients with schizophrenia are awarded points when they behave in a desired manner. Poor or unacceptable behavior is ignored. This reflects which approach to treatment?

Accepted Answer

This approach is known as a token economy, a form of behavior modification that rewards desired behaviors with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges, goods, or other reinforcers. It's commonly used in psychiatric hospitals to encourage positive behavior in patients with conditions like schizophrenia.

Question 18

Which criticism has NOT been made about token economy programs in the treatment of the mentally ill?

Accepted Answer

Token economy programs, where patients earn tokens for desired behaviors that can be exchanged for privileges or items, have faced various criticisms. However, the claim that there is no evidence of improvement as a result of these programs is not accurate. While the quality of improvement and the methodology of studies have been questioned, and ethical concerns raised, evidence does exist showing that token economies can be effective in modifying behavior in the mentally ill.

Question 19

The use of antipsychotic medication dates back to the 1940s, when _____ drugs were used to calm patients about to undergo surgery.

Accepted Answer

Antihistamines were among the first drugs used for their calming effect on patients, leading to the discovery of their antipsychotic properties. This paved the way for the development of more specific antipsychotic medications.

Question 20

Many people who are recovering from schizophrenia and other severe mental disorders receive occupational training in a(n) _____ workshop, which is a supervised workplace for individuals who are not ready to work independently in competitive or complicated jobs.

Accepted Answer

Sheltered workshops are designed to provide a supervised and supportive environment for individuals recovering from severe mental disorders or disabilities, helping them to develop or regain work skills at their own pace before moving on to more independent or competitive employment situations.

Quiz 15: Treatments for Schizophrenia and Other Severe Mental Disorders