Question 1

Prenatal exposure to the ____________ virus is thought to be a contributing factor in the development of schizophrenia.

Accepted Answer

Prenatal exposure to the influenza virus has been linked to an increased risk for developing schizophrenia. Studies have shown that individuals born during flu season or to mothers who were infected with the virus during pregnancy have a higher likelihood of developing the disorder.

Question 2

Antipsychotic medications work by blocking ____________ receptors.

Accepted Answer

Antipsychotic medications primarily work by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. This is based on the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia, which suggests that overactivity of dopamine in certain brain regions is implicated in the development of psychotic symptoms. By blocking dopamine receptors, antipsychotics are able to alleviate some of these symptoms. While some antipsychotics may also have effects on other neurotransmitter systems (such as serotonin and glutamate), their primary mechanism of action is through dopamine receptor blockade.

Question 3

The surgical procedure once administered in the hope of severing faulty neural connections that were thought to cause psychotic behaviour is known as a

Accepted Answer

A lobotomy is a surgical procedure that was once used to treat severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, by cutting or removing parts of the brain that were thought to be responsible for the symptoms. It involved severing the connections between the frontal lobes and the rest of the brain, which often resulted in personality changes and other side effects. Trephination, craniotomy, and craniectomy are all different types of surgeries but are not specific to treating mental illness or psychosis.

Question 4

Relatives of patients with schizophrenia, although not themselves diagnosed with the disorder, are often found to have

Accepted Answer

Relatives of patients with schizophrenia often exhibit poor social cognition and other traits associated with the disorder, but are not necessarily diagnosed with it themselves.

Answer: A and C are unlikely to be the best choices as there is no direct evidence to support them. Option D is also unlikely as cultural beliefs are not necessarily related to genetic or familial factors that contribute to schizophrenia.

Question 5

The treatment of choice for schizophrenia is

Accepted Answer

The most effective treatment for schizophrenia is medication, specifically antipsychotic medication, which can reduce symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. While therapy can be helpful in managing the illness, medication is the primary treatment. Surgery is not a standard treatment for schizophrenia, and while cognitive-behavioural and dialectical-behavioural therapies may be helpful as adjunct treatments, they are not the first-line treatment for schizophrenia.

Question 6

Approximately ______ of schizophrenic patients never take their medication or fail to take it as prescribed.

Accepted Answer

Approximately 50% of schizophrenic patients never take their medication or fail to take it as prescribed, often due to factors like side effects, lack of insight into their illness, or forgetfulness.

Question 7

The term "expressed emotion" is used to describe the ________ and _____ found among family members of persons with schizophrenic disorder.

Accepted Answer

Expressed emotion refers to the level of emotional involvement and critical attitudes found among family members of persons with schizophrenic disorder. It is characterized by high levels of criticism, hostility, and emotional over-involvement in the communication patterns of the family members towards the affected person.

Question 8

When a person provides both the genetic makeup and the environment in which another person lives, it is called

Accepted Answer

When a person provides both the genetic makeup and the environment in which another person lives, it is called gene-environment correlation. This means that the genetic makeup of a person influences the environment they are exposed to and the environment in turn affects how genes are expressed.

Question 9

The classic "schizophrenogenic mother" was thought to be either a cause of or a response to the presence of schizophrenia in a child. Which of the following descriptions depicts this type of mothering?

Accepted Answer

The classic "schizophrenogenic mother" was characterized as overprotective, dominant, and rejecting. This type of mothering was believed to contribute to the development of schizophrenia in the child, as it resulted in negative self-image and poor communication skills. It was also thought to be a response to the presence of schizophrenia in the child, as the mother became more anxious and overprotective in response to her child's symptoms.

Question 10

Between _____% and _____% of people with schizophrenia continue to experience hallucinations despite taking antipsychotic medications.

Accepted Answer

According to research, between 20% and 50% of people with schizophrenia continue to experience hallucinations despite taking antipsychotic medications.

Question 11

The process whereby weaker neural connections are eliminated and stronger neural connections are further enhanced is called

Accepted Answer

The process described in the question is commonly known as synaptic pruning, where weaker connections between neurons are eliminated and stronger ones are enhanced, making the brain more efficient. Option A (neural shearing) and Option C (synaptic elimination) are incorrect terms and not commonly used to describe this process. Option B (neural pruning) is a similar term but not as commonly used as synaptic pruning. Therefore, the best answer is D (synaptic pruning).

Question 12

Programs that are designed to educate patients and family members about a specific mental disorder in order to help alleviate stress and identify positive coping skills are called

Accepted Answer

Psychoeducation programs aim to educate patients and their families about a specific mental disorder, its symptoms, causes, treatments, and management strategies. This form of education helps individuals identify positive coping skills, reduce stress, and improve their overall quality of life. It can be a helpful adjunct to other forms of treatment, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy or medication.

Question 13

The two structural brain abnormalities that are consistently found in schizophrenics are

Accepted Answer

Research consistently shows that schizophrenics have an increased size of brain ventricles, which indicates a decrease in brain tissue. This is paired with a decreased amount of gray matter in the brain, specifically in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.

Question 14

While a person's genetic makeup may contribute to the development of schizophrenia, it is not the only cause. A Finnish research study discussed in the text examined a national sample of children who were adopted away at birth. Children born to mothers with schizophrenia were compared with others who were born to mothers without the disorder. The results of this study demonstrate that a child's ____________ is a contributing factor in the development of the disorder.

Accepted Answer

The study discussed in the text compared children born to mothers with schizophrenia to those born to mothers without the disorder, indicating that the family environment is a contributing factor in the development of schizophrenia. The other choices (school environment, work environment, and extracurricular environment) were not mentioned in the study and do not have strong evidence linking them to the development of schizophrenia.

Question 15

Medications that were widely available before the 1990s and that are effective in reducing only the ____________ symptoms of schizophrenia are called ____________.

Accepted Answer

Medications that were widely available before the 1990s and that are effective in reducing only the positive symptoms of schizophrenia are called typical antipsychotics.

Question 16

MRI studies have demonstrated that changes in ventricle size and gray matter quantity among people with schizophrenia

Accepted Answer

The answer of MRI studies have demonstrated that changes in...

Question 17

Medications developed in the 1990s that are effective in treating the positive symptoms of schizophrenia and somewhat effective in treating negative symptoms and cognitive impairments are called

Accepted Answer

Atypical antipsychotics were developed in the 1990s and are effective in treating the positive symptoms of schizophrenia (such as hallucinations and delusions) and somewhat effective in treating negative symptoms and cognitive impairments. Typical antipsychotics were developed earlier, but are less effective at treating the negative symptoms and may have more severe side effects. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and dopamine agonists are not typically used to treat schizophrenia.

Question 18

The theory that suggests a combination of genetic and prenatal/perinatal factors lays the foundation for the development of schizophrenia is called the

Accepted Answer

The theory that suggests a combination of genetic and prenatal/perinatal factors lays the foundation for the development of schizophrenia is known as the neurodevelopmental model. This theory posits that abnormal brain development starts before birth and interacts with environmental factors to eventually lead to the onset of schizophrenia.

Question 19

Compared with people who do not have schizophrenia, synaptic pruning occurs ________ in people who do have the disorder.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that individuals with schizophrenia undergo excessive synaptic pruning, or a faster rate of elimination of synapses, especially during adolescence or young adulthood. This excess pruning is believed to be related to the development of symptoms associated with the disorder.

Question 20

A serious side effect associated with typical antipsychotic medications is a neurological condition characterized by abnormal and involuntary movements. This condition is called

Accepted Answer

Tardive dyskinesia is a serious and often irreversible side effect associated with long-term use of typical antipsychotic medications, which can cause abnormal and involuntary movements, especially in the face, tongue, and limbs. It is often characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements such as grimacing, lip smacking, rapid blinking, and tongue protrusion. Other side effects associated with typical antipsychotic medications include drowsiness, weight gain, dry mouth, and constipation.

Quiz 10: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders