Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

Introduction

Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders are defined by abnormalities in one or more of the following five domains:

• Delusions

Delusions are fixed beliefs that are not amenable to change in light of conflicting evidence. Their content may include a variety of themes (e.g., persecutory, referential, somatic, religious, grandiose).

• Hallucinations

Hallucinations are perception-like experiences that occur without an external stimulus. They are vivid and clear, with the full force and impact of normal perceptions, and not under voluntary control. They may occur in any sensory modality, but auditory hallucinations are the most common in schizophrenia and related disorders.

• Disorganized thinking (speech)

Disorganized thinking (formal thought disorder) is typically inferred from the individual's speech. The individual may switch from one topic to another (derailment or loose associations). Answers to questions may be obliquely related or completely unrelated (tangentiality). Rarely, speech may be so severely disorganized that it is nearly incomprehensible and resembles receptive aphasia in its linguistic disorganization {incoherence or "word salad").

• Grossly disorganized or abnormal motor behavior (including catatonia)

Grossly disorganized or abnormal motor behavior may manifest itself in a variety of ways, ranging from childlike "silliness" to unpredictable agitation. Problems may be noted in any form of goal-directed behavior, leading to difficulties in performing activities of daily living.

• Negative symptoms

Negative symptoms are mostly associated with Schizophrenia, they include (1 & 2 mainly) :

1. Diminished emotional expression: Reductions in the expression of emotions.

2. Avolition: Decrease in motivated self-initiated purposeful activities.

3. Alogia: Diminished speech output.

4. Anhedonia: Decreased ability to experience pleasure from positive stimuli or a degradation in the recollection of pleasure previously experienced.

Antistigma Program for Medical Students

Altindag, Abdurrahman, et al. "Effects of an antistigma program on medical students’ attitudes towards people with schizophrenia." Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 60.3 (2006): 283-288.‏