Question 1

What is the major neurotransmitter that has been linked to schizophrenia

Accepted Answer

The majority of antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia work by reducing the activity of dopamine in the brain, and imbalances in dopamine transmission have been consistently linked to the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Question 2

Ivy excitedly tells you that she has been invited to sing at the coronation of the new King of Cyprus.You find this difficult to believe,considering that Ivy sings terribly,and Cyprus doesn't have a king.Ivy's statements are clearly out of touch with reality.What is Ivy experiencing

Accepted Answer

Ivy is experiencing a delusion, a belief or perception that is not based in reality. She believes that she has been invited to sing at the coronation of a new king, which is not true.

Question 3

Mayra has a psychological disorder,and her doctor has prescribed a drug that affects the levels of dopamine in her nervous system.Which disorder is Mayra most likely being treated for

Accepted Answer

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is known to be involved in regulating mood, cognition, motor control, and reward pathways. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that has been associated with an imbalance in dopaminergic neurotransmission, with an excess of dopamine signaling in certain brain regions linked to the positive symptoms of the illness, including hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking. Medications that target dopamine receptors or decrease dopamine synthesis can help to alleviate these symptoms in people with schizophrenia.

Question 4

What is characteristic of positive symptoms in schizophrenia

Accepted Answer

Positive symptoms refer to the presence of abnormal behaviors or experiences, such as hallucinations, delusions, and bizarre behavior, that are not typically present in individuals without schizophrenia.

Question 5

Melanie has a blunted affect,rarely bathes,and shows little evidence of interest in any stimuli.If Melanie is diagnosed with schizophrenia,which type of symptoms is she expressing

Accepted Answer

Melanie is exhibiting negative symptoms, including a lack of motivation or interest in typically engaging stimuli, as well as a blunted affect and lack of grooming behaviors.

Question 6

Nabeel hears voices singing even though none are present.What is Nabeel experiencing

Accepted Answer

Nabeel is experiencing a sensory experience that is not based on reality, which is known as a hallucination.

Question 7

Which statement best describes the onset of schizophrenia

Accepted Answer

The symptoms of schizophrenia typically emerge during adolescence or early adulthood, with men often experiencing an earlier onset than women.

Question 8

Marnie has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.What is the approximate likelihood that her identical twin will also be diagnosed with schizophrenia at some point in her life

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that if one identical twin has schizophrenia, there is approximately a 50% chance that the other twin will also be diagnosed with schizophrenia at some point in their life. This is because identical twins share 100% of their genetic material, making them more susceptible to the disorder if one twin has it. However, other environmental factors also play a role in the development of schizophrenia, which is why the likelihood is not at 100%.

Question 9

What is characteristic of negative symptoms in schizophrenia

Accepted Answer

Negative symptoms refer to the absence or reduction of normal behaviors and experiences, such as flattened emotion (lack of emotional expression), apathy (lack of motivation), and poverty of speech (lack of words spoken).

Question 10

Abby was watching a documentary on some of the horrors of the Vietnam War.Even when she saw soldiers being blown up after stepping on land mines,she showed no emotional reaction or response.What symptom does this illustrate

Accepted Answer

Flat affect refers to a lack of emotional expression or response, which is evident in Abby's behavior while watching the documentary.

Question 11

Which statement best reflects the heritability of schizophrenia

Accepted Answer

The heritability of schizophrenia is complex and not fully understood, but research suggests that genetics does play a role in the development of the disorder. Studies of families, twins, and adoption all suggest that some people inherit a genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia. However, it is not a simple case of one gene causing the disorder and the inheritance pattern is not just a matter of dominant or recessive genes. Concordance rates for identical twins (who share all their genes) are higher than for fraternal twins (who share about 50 percent of their genes), but it is not near 100 percent, indicating that environmental factors also contribute.

Question 12

When do individuals with schizophrenic disorders tend to show a greater responsiveness to treatment

Accepted Answer

Individuals with schizophrenic disorders tend to show a greater responsiveness to treatment when positive symptoms are predominant. This is because positive symptoms are typically more responsive to medication and can be reduced or eliminated with antipsychotic medication. On the other hand, negative symptoms, such as apathy and social withdrawal, are often more difficult to treat and may persist even with medication.

Question 13

What symptom involves the perception of stimuli that aren't there

Accepted Answer

Hallucinations involve the perception of stimuli that aren't there. Anhedonia is the inability to experience pleasure, delusions are false beliefs, and illusions involve misinterpreting real stimuli.

Question 14

Which psychoactive substances may contribute to onset of schizophrenia in otherwise genetically vulnerable individuals

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that both marijuana and methamphetamine use may contribute to the onset of schizophrenia in susceptible individuals. Alcohol is not known to have a direct link with schizophrenia, and there is little evidence to suggest a relationship between heroin or magic mushrooms and the development of this disorder.

Question 15

Which risk factor is implicated by the finding that many schizophrenics have difficulty in basic information processing

Accepted Answer

The finding that many schizophrenics have difficulty in basic information processing suggests a neurological defect as a risk factor. Schizophrenia has been linked to abnormalities in brain structure and function, which can affect information processing.

Question 16

Norton hears disembodied voices all the time that give him strange commands.The voices have told him that a spacecraft will land over the weekend and take him to a more advanced civilization.What is the term for the voices that Norton hears

Accepted Answer

Norton is experiencing auditory hallucinations, which are sensory experiences that occur without any external stimulus.

Question 17

When does a patient with schizophrenia tend to have the most favourable prognosis

Accepted Answer

Patients with schizophrenia tend to have a more favorable prognosis when the proportion of negative symptoms (such as apathy, lack of emotion, poor or nonexistent social functioning) is relatively low. Negative symptoms are often more resistant to treatment and are associated with a poorer outcome.

Question 18

How do typical drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia function

Accepted Answer

Typical drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia function by slowing down the activity of dopamine in the brain. This helps to reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions, which are thought to be caused by excessive levels of dopamine in the brain. As such, these drugs are often referred to as dopamine antagonists or neuroleptics.

Question 19

Jack hears voices and believes that he has supernatural powers.Which type of schizophrenic symptoms are most prevalent in Jack's case

Accepted Answer

Jack's belief of having supernatural powers and hearing voices suggests the presence of positive symptoms, which include delusions and hallucinations.

Question 20

Enos and Amir are both currently 30 years old.Enos's biological mother has schizophrenia,but neither of his adoptive parents have the disorder.In contrast,neither of Amir's biological parents have schizophrenia; however,his adoptive mother has schizophrenia.What should you predict based on research that has investigated the role of genetic vulnerability in schizophrenic disorders

Accepted Answer

Research on schizophrenia has shown that genetic factors play a significant role in the risk of developing the disorder. Enos, having a biological mother with schizophrenia, is at an increased genetic risk, while Amir, with no biological parents having schizophrenia, is less likely to develop it despite his adoptive mother's condition.

Quiz 15: A: Psychological Disorders