Question 1

A woman has just been diagnosed with postpartum depression. MOST likely, she will:

Accepted Answer

While postpartum depression can be a serious condition that requires treatment, the majority of women with this diagnosis do not progress to postpartum psychosis or harm their child. With appropriate care and support, most women are able to recover from postpartum depression without any negative outcomes.

Question 2

Symptoms of postpartum psychosis appear to be triggered by:

Accepted Answer

Postpartum psychosis is thought to be triggered by a sudden shift in hormones occurring just after childbirth. This sudden hormonal change can cause alterations in mood and behavior.

Question 3

Which statement about genetic factors in schizophrenia is accurate?

Accepted Answer

Close relatives of those with schizophrenia have a higher risk of developing the disorder than distant relatives, suggesting a genetic component to the disorder. This has been shown through family studies and twin studies. However, environmental factors can also play a role in the development of schizophrenia.

Question 4

Which BEST supports the dopamine hypothesis for schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Antipsychotic drugs often produce Parkinson-like symptoms because they reduce dopamine activity, supporting the idea that excess dopamine activity is linked to schizophrenia.

Question 5

Which is the BEST example of a finding from genetic linkage and molecular biology studies?

Accepted Answer

Genetic linkage and molecular biology studies have identified specific gene defects on certain chromosomes that are associated with a predisposition to schizophrenia. This is a direct molecular finding that has helped to better understand the genetic underpinnings of the disorder. The other options, while also important in understanding schizophrenia, do not stem from genetic linkage and molecular biology studies.

Question 6

In 2001, Andrea Yates, showing symptoms of postpartum psychosis, drowned her five children. Assuming she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, her actions were:

Accepted Answer

Less than 5 percent of women with postpartum psychosis harm or attempt to harm their offspring. While postpartum psychosis is a serious mental health issue that can result in harmful behavior, the vast majority of women do not harm their children. It is important to address and treat postpartum psychosis as soon as possible to prevent any harmful outcomes.

Question 7

Based on family pedigree studies, which relative of an individual with a diagnosis of schizophrenia would be MOST at risk for developing the disorder?

Accepted Answer

Schizophrenia has a familial pattern of inheritance with a greater risk for siblings of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Studies have shown that siblings of individuals with schizophrenia have a 10% chance of also developing the disorder, while children of individuals with schizophrenia have a 6% chance, and parents have a 6-13% chance. Nieces, nephews, and grandchildren have a lower risk than siblings, parents, and children.

Question 8

Which group of relatives of someone diagnosed with schizophrenia shows the correct sequence from having the highest concordance rate for schizophrenia to having the lowest concordance rate for schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

The correct sequence of relatives with increasing concordance rates for schizophrenia is siblings, parents, and first cousins. Research has consistently shown that the siblings of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia have the highest concordance rates, followed by parents, and then first cousins. Choice A and B are incorrect because they have the order of parent and first cousin reversed. Choice D is incorrect because it has the order of sibling and first cousin reversed.

Question 9

Researchers found that phenothiazines reduced psychotic symptoms but also caused Parkinsonian symptoms, like tremors. This discovery suggests that:

Accepted Answer

Phenothiazines are dopamine antagonists, meaning they block dopamine receptors in the brain. The fact that they reduce psychotic symptoms suggests that excessive dopamine may be involved in schizophrenia. The fact that they also cause Parkinsonian symptoms (which are caused by a lack of dopamine in certain parts of the brain) further supports the hypothesis that schizophrenia is tied to excessive dopamine.

Question 10

Why are people who take medication for schizophrenia often given medication that helps control shaking and tremors?

Accepted Answer

Medications used to treat schizophrenia, such as typical antipsychotics, can produce Parkinson-like symptoms as a side effect, including shaking and tremors. Therefore, people with schizophrenia taking these medications may also be given medication to control these symptoms.

Question 11

Postpartum psychosis occurs:

Accepted Answer

Postpartum psychosis occurs in about 0.1 percent of women, beginning soon after childbirth. It is a rare but serious mental illness that requires immediate medical attention.

Question 12

Which statement BEST fits the evidence for the biological basis of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

The evidence suggests that schizophrenia is a polygenetic disorder with an impact on brain structure and chemical activity. While some genetic factors have been identified, it is unlikely that a single gene or set of chromosomes can fully account for the disorder.

Question 13

Does research support the thinking that there is a "schizophrenia gene"?

Accepted Answer

Schizophrenia is believed to be a polygenic disorder, meaning it involves multiple genes, and the exact genes responsible have not been identified yet.

Question 14

In general, the closer that people are genetically related to someone with schizophrenia, the more likely they are to be diagnosed with schizophrenia as well. This is evidence of:

Accepted Answer

The statement describes a positive correlation between genetic relatedness and the likelihood of a schizophrenia diagnosis, meaning that as the degree of genetic relatedness increases, so does the likelihood of being diagnosed with schizophrenia. This suggests a genetic component to the disorder, but does not necessarily imply a causal relationship between the two.

Question 15

If schizophrenia depended solely on genetic make-up, then compared to rates of schizophrenia in siblings in general, "fraternal" twins should have:

Accepted Answer

Fraternal twins share, on average, 50% of their genes, just like non-twin siblings. Therefore, if schizophrenia depended solely on genetic makeup, fraternal twins and siblings would have the same concordance rate for schizophrenia.

Question 16

A mother experiences "baby blues" shortly after delivering a child. The chances that she later will develop postpartum psychosis are closest to:

Accepted Answer

Postpartum psychosis is a rare condition, occurring in approximately 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 deliveries, making the chance closest to 1 in 1,000.

Question 17

According to the diathesis-stress model of schizophrenia:

Accepted Answer

The diathesis-stress model of schizophrenia suggests that individuals with a biological predisposition for schizophrenia may develop the disorder if exposed to certain psychosocial stressors, such as trauma or substance abuse. It does not suggest that either factor is sufficient on its own for the development of schizophrenia.

Question 18

The data from studies of the biological and adoptive parents of children who receive a diagnosis of schizophrenia as adults show that the concordance rate of schizophrenia with biological relatives is:

Accepted Answer

Studies have consistently shown that the concordance rate of schizophrenia is higher with biological relatives than with adoptive relatives, indicating a genetic component to the disorder. The age at adoption does not appear to significantly affect this pattern. Therefore, option B is the correct choice.

Question 19

Recent research shows that if one identical twin develops schizophrenia, there is almost a 50 percent chance the other twin will develop schizophrenia. If future research confirms this finding, we will have evidence of:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Recent research shows that if one identical...

Question 20

What is the rate of concordance for schizophrenia in identical twins?

Accepted Answer

The rate of concordance for schizophrenia in identical twins is approximately 40-50 percent, indicating a significant genetic component to the disorder.

Quiz 14: Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders