Question 1

If a person with paranoid schizophrenia is described as having ideas of reference, this means that he or she

Accepted Answer

Ideas of reference refer to the belief that trivial events or actions are of great personal significance, often believing that they are being directed at them personally. This is a common symptom of paranoid schizophrenia.

Question 2

Which of the following is thought to be the most common type of delusions in schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Delusions of persecution, in which an individual believes they are being targeted or threatened by others, are thought to be the most common type of delusions in schizophrenia. Grandiose delusions, in which an individual believes they have exceptional abilities or fame, are also common. Delusional jealousy involves unfounded beliefs that a romantic partner is unfaithful, and ideas of reference involve misinterpreting neutral events as having personal significance. While these types of delusions can occur in schizophrenia, they are not as common as delusions of persecution or grandiosity.

Question 3

Diagnoses of schizophrenia cannot be made if the patient also has

Accepted Answer

Mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder, can have symptoms that overlap with schizophrenia, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. Therefore, a diagnosis of schizophrenia cannot be made if the patient also has a mood disorder.

Question 4

Gerald experienced symptoms of schizophrenia and of a mood disorder. In earlier editions of the DSM, he would have been diagnosed with:

Accepted Answer

Schizoaffective psychosis is the only option that specifically includes symptoms of both schizophrenia and a mood disorder. Schizophreniform disorder would only include symptoms of schizophrenia without a mood disorder. Schizotypal and schizoid personality disorders are both characterized by a pervasive pattern of social and interpersonal deficits without the presence of psychosis.

Question 5

The infamous case of Canadian factory worker Tricia Miller who was obsessed with Toronto Blue Jays star Roberto Alomar, to the point of threatening to kill him when he did not respond to her attempts to reach him, is a case of:

Accepted Answer

Tricia Miller's behavior of being obsessed with a celebrity to the point of threatening violence is characteristic of delusional disorder, a condition where a person maintains a false belief despite evidence to the contrary. Paranoid schizophrenia involves delusions, but also includes symptoms such as hallucinations and disorganized thinking, which are not evident in this case. Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors, but not necessarily delusional beliefs. Schizoaffective disorder is characterized by symptoms of both schizophrenia and a mood disorder, which are not present in this case.

Question 6

Heinrichs (2005) found that the effect sizes that link schizophrenia and neuropsychological functions showed magnitudes at least twice as large as studies that link schizophrenia with structural brain imaging. He concluded that:

Accepted Answer

Heinrichs' findings suggest that the link between schizophrenia and cognitive deficits is stronger than the link between schizophrenia and structural brain imaging. This suggests that cognitive deficits in schizophrenia may be related to factors other than brain injury, such as chronic stress and distress. Therefore, choice B is the best answer. Choices A, C, and D are all incorrect as they do not accurately reflect Heinrichs' conclusions.

Question 7

Bill believes that he is an important spy for an underground militia, on a mission to investigate the military activities in his town. He spends most of his time devising ways to tap into the phone lines of the government office near his home, and at precisely 5:10 every afternoon, he stands outside his home facing to the west, believing that in this way he is transmitting information to his bosses in the militia hometown. Which of the following diagnoses would best fit Bill?

Accepted Answer

Bill demonstrates paranoid delusions of being an important spy for an underground militia and believes that the government office near his home is involved in military activities. Additionally, his behavior of standing outside his home every afternoon and believing that he is transmitting information to his bosses is consistent with paranoid schizophrenia.

Question 8

Which is required as part of the DSM-IV definition of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

According to DSM-IV, symptoms must be present for at least six months to qualify for a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Acute onset (A) and family history (C) are not required criteria for the diagnosis, while dopamine imbalance (D) is a theoretical explanation for the neurobiology of schizophrenia rather than a formal diagnostic requirement.

Question 9

Betty remarks frequently that she is wealthy, despite being housed in a psychiatric hospital, and having an empty bank account. When asked to explain this apparent contradiction, she indicates that the hospital is keeping her money, but that it is part of a vast conspiracy because the administrators fear her power when she is not hospitalized. She has experienced symptoms such as these since she graduated high school. These symptoms are sometimes collectively referred to as

Accepted Answer

Betty's belief that she is wealthy despite evidence to the contrary and her delusion of a conspiracy against her due to her perceived power are consistent with grandiose delusions.

Question 10

When the major symptoms of schizophrenia subside and the person no longer meets criteria for a formal diagnosis, they are then:

Accepted Answer

When the major symptoms of schizophrenia subside and the person no longer meets criteria for a formal diagnosis, they may be labelled with residual schizophrenia. This category is used when the person experiences some symptoms or has a history of previous episodes but is not currently experiencing a full-blown episode. It is not appropriate to diagnose them with the same subtype of schizophrenia, as their symptoms have subsided. Major depression may be present, but it is not the appropriate diagnosis for someone with residual schizophrenia. Undifferentiated schizophrenia refers to someone who has symptoms but does not fit neatly into one subtype, which is not applicable in this situation.

Question 11

Catatonia is characterized by a disturbance of:

Accepted Answer

Catatonia is a condition where there is a disturbance in motor functions, such as lack of movement, rigidity, or repetitive movements. While other symptoms may be present, the hallmark feature of catatonia is the disruption in motor behavior.

Question 12

Charlie is a hospitalized patient diagnosed with schizophrenia who reports to his nurse that the radio is playing songs about his life. In fact, he is convinced that the artists are writing the songs to communicate a message to him. The symptom being reported is best diagnosed as:

Accepted Answer

Charlie is experiencing an idea of reference, which is a type of delusion where an individual believes that ordinary events or objects have a special meaning or significance specifically for them. In this case, Charlie believes that the songs on the radio are about him and communicate a message to him. This is a common symptom in schizophrenia. Delusional jealousy involves a belief that a partner or spouse is unfaithful, paranoid persecution involves a belief that others are out to harm or persecute the individual, and grandiose delusion involves an inflated sense of self-importance or abilities.

Question 13

Harvey has bizarre ideas, believing, for example, that his arms are decomposing. He has frequent hallucinations in which he sees his arms losing flesh and believes this is punishment for having brushed up against a strange woman in a store several years before. Harvey has completely neglected his personal hygiene, never bathing or putting on clean clothes. He seems unaware of what is going on around him, frequently laughing and giggling for no apparent reason. Which of the following diagnoses would best fit Harvey?

Accepted Answer

Harvey exhibits disorganized thinking and behavior, with bizarre ideas and a lack of personal hygiene. His hallucinations and giggling also fit with the disorganized subtype of schizophrenia. The other types of schizophrenia may not fully capture Harvey's symptoms.

Question 14

The mistaken delusion that one is loved by someone else who is famous but who may never actually have met the individual is known as:

Accepted Answer

The mistaken delusion that one is loved by someone else who is famous but who may never actually have met the individual is known as erotomania.

Question 15

Sam has a strong and unwavering conviction that the Queen of England is in love with him. He does not have any other symptoms. His most likely diagnosis would be:

Accepted Answer

In delusional disorder, the individual has one or more persistent and non-bizarre delusions for at least 1 month without showing other psychotic symptoms. Sam's belief that the Queen of England is in love with him is a specific delusion that is not influenced by other factors, suggesting a diagnosis of delusional disorder. Schizophreniform disorder and schizoaffective disorder are unlikely as Sam doesn't have any other symptoms. Bipolar disorder with delusions is also unlikely as Sam's delusion is not mood-congruent.

Question 16

The woman who was obsessed with former Blue Jay Roberto Alomar and who was arrested in the Sky Dome in Toronto was deemed to suffer from:

Accepted Answer

The woman's obsession with Roberto Alomar suggests a delusional disorder, which is characterized by fixed false beliefs with a lack of insight into their irrationality. Undifferentiated schizophrenia, paranoid schizophrenia, and dissociative disorder do not fit with the specific symptoms described.

Question 17

If someone meets the general criteria for schizophrenia but not the specific criteria for any of the three subtypes, they are deemed:

Accepted Answer

If someone meets the general criteria for schizophrenia but not the specific criteria for any of the three subtypes, they are diagnosed with undifferentiated schizophrenia. This subtype is characterized by a mixture of various symptoms, without enough of any one symptom to specifically meet the criteria for paranoid, disorganized, or catatonic schizophrenia.

Question 18

Compared to DSM-II, the later DSMs _____________ the diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Accepted Answer

Compared to DSM-II, later DSMs narrowed the diagnosis of schizophrenia by requiring more specific criteria and eliminating subtypes such as paranoid, hebephrenic, and undifferentiated schizophrenia. This was done in an effort to improve diagnostic reliability and validity.

Question 19

Kraepelin's subtypes of schizophrenia

Accepted Answer

Kraepelin's subtypes of schizophrenia, with some modifications, are included in the DSM-IV, which is used in the United States and other parts of the world as a formal diagnostic system. Bleuler's subcategories are not used in the current diagnostic systems.

Question 20

The higher rate of the catatonic subtype of schizophrenia diagnosed in the early part of the century has been attributed to the following:

Accepted Answer

The higher rate of the catatonic subtype of schizophrenia diagnosed in the early part of the century has been attributed to misdiagnosis of patients with other disorders, such as "sleeping sickness," as having schizophrenia.

Quiz 11: Schizophrenia