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Flashcards in Psychosis Deck (31)
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1
Q

what is the definition of psychosis?

A

mental disorder in which the thoughts, affective response or ability to communicate and relate to others, are sufficiently impaired to interfere grossly with the capacity to deal with reality

2
Q

what are the classic characteristics of psychosis?

A

hallucinations
delusions
disorder of form of thought

3
Q

what organic conditions can cause psychosis?

A

delirium
dementias
brain injury
stroke

4
Q

which substance use can cause psychosis?

A

alcohol intoxication
withdrawal
delirium tremens

5
Q

name 2 causes of manic depressive psychosis?

A

unipolar depression

bipolar disorder

6
Q

what causes dementia praecox?

A

schizophrenia and other paranoid illnesses

7
Q

give examples of psychotic experiences?

A
hallucinations
ideas of reference 
delusions 
formal thought disorder
thought interference 
passivity phenomena
loss of insight
8
Q

what causes a hallucination?

A

aberrent brain processing

9
Q

what is the definition of a hallucination?

A

a perception which occurs in the absence of an external stimulus (is experienced as originating in real space)

10
Q

can a hallucination occur in any sensory modality?

A

yes: visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile and hepatic

11
Q

when is a hallucination significant?

A

only in context of other relevant symptoms

12
Q

what are ideas of reference?

A

innocuous or coincidental events will be ascribed significant meaning by person eg thinking there are really messages in newspaper about them

13
Q

what are self referential experiences?

A

belief that external events are related to oneself eg the feeling that others are speaking about me / laughing at me

14
Q

what is a delusion?

A

fixed, falsely held belief held with unshakeable conviction which is impervious to logical argument or evidence to contrary

15
Q

what is a secondary delusion?

A

often attempts to explain anomalous experiences

16
Q

how do you infer a thought disorder?

A

but be inferred from patterns of speech, cannot be directly observed

17
Q

what are characteristics of a thought disorder?

A
neologisms 
circumstantiality / tangentiality
clanging and punning 
loosening of associations 
knights move thinking 
verbigeration / word salad
18
Q

what is thought insertion?

A

these thoughts are being put into my head that don’t belong to me - i haven’t thought them

19
Q

what is thought withdrawal?

A

they can extract the information from me using the internet, they take my thoughts out of my head

20
Q

what is thought broadcasting?

A

its like everyone can know what i am thinking - my sky dish is beaming what i am thinking to the neighbours, they all know

21
Q

what is thought blocking?

A

its like i get halfway though thinking something and the thoughts just dry up and i cant think anything for a while

22
Q

what is passivity of volition?

A

made action

23
Q

what is passivity of affect?

A

made feelings

24
Q

what is passivity of impulse?

A

made urges

25
Q

what is passivity of somatic passivity?

A

influence on the body

26
Q

what is loss of insight?

A

to you everything seems as real as it always did, things make sense and you know what is going on
but everyone else is telling you you are unwell

27
Q

what do 3rd person auditory hallucinations suggest?

A

schizophrenia

28
Q

what is depressive psychosis and what are symptoms of this?

A

typified by mood congruent content of psychotic symptoms

delusions of worthlessness / guilt / hypochondriasis / poverty

hallucinations of accusing / insulting / threatening voices - typically 2nd person

29
Q

what is mania with psychosis and what are symptoms of this?

A

typified by mood congruent content of psychotic symptoms

delusions of grandeur / special ability / persecution / religiosity

hallucinations: auditory (eg gods voice)

flight of ideas

30
Q

what is delirium?

A

acute, transient disturbance caused by many conditions

31
Q

what are symptoms of delirium?

A
clouding of consciousness (fluctuates)
impaired concentration / memory 
visual +/- auditory hallucinations
persecutory delusions 
psychomotor disturbance (agitation or retardation)
irritability 
insomnia