Schizophrenia: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Neuropsychological Deficits

Question 1

Which of the following is a negative symptom of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Social withdrawal

Answer

Auditory hallucinations

Answer

Paranoid delusions

Question 2

Which of the following is a negative symptom of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Social withdrawal

Answer

Hallucinations

Answer

Delusions

Answer

Disorganized speech

Question 3

Which factors are associated with a better prognosis in schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Positive symptoms being more prominent than negative symptoms

Accepted Answer

Strong social support network

Answer

Early onset of symptoms

Answer

Limited exposure to antipsychotic medications

Question 4

Which of the following is a characteristic of **positive symptoms** of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Hallucinations

Answer

Negative thoughts

Answer

Social withdrawal

Answer

Anhedonia

Question 5

What is the neurotransmitter most strongly implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Glutamate

Answer

Serotonin

Answer

Acetylcholine

Question 6

Which of the following is a **cognitive deficit** commonly observed in schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Impaired working memory

Answer

Enhanced attention

Answer

Increased verbal fluency

Answer

Superior problem-solving abilities

Question 7

What is the primary goal of antipsychotic medication in the treatment of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

To alleviate positive symptoms

Answer

To eliminate negative symptoms

Answer

To prevent relapse

Answer

To restore cognitive functioning

Question 8

Which of the following is a **psychosocial intervention** commonly used in the treatment of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Answer

Deep brain stimulation

Answer

Vagus nerve stimulation

Answer

Electroconvulsive therapy

Question 9

Which of the following is a known **risk factor** for the development of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Family history

Answer

Healthy diet

Answer

High socioeconomic status

Answer

Regular exercise

Question 10

What is the **most common subtype** of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Paranoid schizophrenia

Answer

Catatonic schizophrenia

Answer

Undifferentiated schizophrenia

Answer

Disorganized schizophrenia

Question 11

Which of the following is a characteristic of the **prodromal phase** of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Subtle changes in behavior and thinking

Answer

Complete remission of symptoms

Answer

Full-blown psychotic symptoms

Answer

No noticeable changes

Question 12

What is the primary focus of the **recovery model** in schizophrenia treatment?

Accepted Answer

Empowering individuals to manage their condition and live fulfilling lives.

Answer

Eradicating symptoms

Answer

Preventing relapse

Answer

Reducing hospitalization

Question 13

Which of the following is not considered a positive symptom of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Social withdrawal

Answer

Delusions

Answer

Disorganized speech

Answer

Hallucinations

Question 14

What is the term for a fixed, false belief that is not based on reality?

Accepted Answer

Delusion

Answer

Obsession

Answer

Illusion

Answer

Hallucination

Question 15

Which neurotransmitter is strongly linked to the development of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine

Answer

GABA

Answer

Acetylcholine

Answer

Serotonin

Question 16

What is the primary pharmacological intervention for treating schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Antipsychotic medication

Answer

Psychotherapy alone

Answer

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Answer

Social skills training alone

Question 17

Which of the following is a common neuropsychological impairment experienced by individuals with schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Impaired attention

Answer

Exceptional problem-solving skills

Answer

Superior working memory

Answer

Enhanced verbal fluency

Question 18

Which of the following is a known risk factor for developing schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Family history

Answer

Excellent prenatal care

Answer

High socioeconomic status

Answer

Regular physical exercise

Question 19

Which type of antipsychotic medication is less likely to cause movement-related side effects?

Accepted Answer

Atypical antipsychotic

Answer

Mood stabilizer

Answer

Typical antipsychotic

Question 20

What is the term for the early stage of schizophrenia characterized by subtle changes in behavior and thinking?

Accepted Answer

Prodromal

Answer

Chronic

Answer

Residual

Answer

Acute

Question 21

Which of the following is a **negative symptom** of schizophrenia, often characterized by a reduction in normal behavior?

Accepted Answer

Alogia (poverty of speech)

Answer

Delusions (false beliefs)

Answer

Hallucinations (sensory experiences without external stimuli)

Question 22

A patient believes that their thoughts are being broadcast aloud for others to hear. This is an example of which type of **delusion**?

Accepted Answer

Thought broadcasting

Answer

Persecutory delusion (belief of being harmed or threatened)

Answer

Grandiose delusion (exaggerated sense of self-importance)

Answer

Control delusion (belief that one's actions are controlled by external forces)

Question 23

Which neurotransmitter system is most strongly linked to the development of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Serotonin (mood regulation and sleep)

Answer

Acetylcholine (involved in muscle movement and memory)

Answer

Norepinephrine (stress response and attention)

Question 24

Family studies on schizophrenia suggest that:

Accepted Answer

Individuals with a family history of schizophrenia are at an increased risk of developing the condition.

Answer

Adopted children are at higher risk if their adoptive parents have schizophrenia (this is less likely than genetic influence).

Answer

Schizophrenia is solely caused by environmental factors.

Question 25

Which of the following **cognitive deficits** is commonly observed in individuals with schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Impaired working memory (difficulty holding information in mind for short periods)

Answer

Increased processing speed

Answer

Enhanced long-term memory

Answer

Superior attentional control

Question 26

Antipsychotic medications primarily work by:

Accepted Answer

Blocking dopamine receptors in the brain

Answer

Enhancing glutamate release

Answer

Reducing GABA activity

Answer

Increasing serotonin levels

Question 27

Which therapy focuses on helping individuals with schizophrenia identify and challenge their delusional thoughts?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Answer

Psychodynamic therapy (explores unconscious conflicts)

Answer

Client-centered therapy (emphasizes unconditional positive regard)

Answer

Interpersonal therapy (focuses on improving relationships)

Question 28

The diathesis-stress model suggests that schizophrenia arises from:

Accepted Answer

An interaction between a genetic predisposition (diathesis) and environmental stressors.

Answer

Learned behaviors during childhood

Answer

Exposure to a single, traumatic event

Question 29

Individuals with schizophrenia often struggle with social cognition, which refers to:

Accepted Answer

Understanding and interpreting social cues and interactions (e.g., facial expressions, body language)

Answer

Solving logical problems

Answer

Remembering factual information

Question 30

What is a key component of early intervention programs for schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Providing comprehensive support and treatment at the first signs of psychosis (e.g., hallucinations, delusions) to improve long-term outcomes.

Answer

Focusing solely on medication management

Answer

Delaying treatment until symptoms become severe

Question 31

Which of the following is a hallmark negative symptom of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Alogia (poverty of speech)

Answer

Auditory hallucinations

Answer

Disorganized thinking

Answer

Grandiose delusions

Question 32

According to the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia, the disorder is primarily caused by:

Accepted Answer

An imbalance in dopamine neurotransmission, specifically an excess or hyperactivity in certain brain regions.

Answer

A deficiency of serotonin in the prefrontal cortex.

Answer

Structural abnormalities in the temporal lobe

Question 33

An individual with schizophrenia reports experiencing sensations of bugs crawling on their skin, despite no physical stimulus being present. This is an example of a:

Accepted Answer

Tactile hallucination

Answer

Delusion of infestation

Answer

Negative symptom

Answer

Obsession

Question 34

Which cognitive impairment is commonly seen in schizophrenia, particularly affecting attention and decision-making processes?

Accepted Answer

Impaired cognitive flexibility

Answer

Superior perceptual processing

Answer

Enhanced verbal memory

Answer

Increased semantic knowledge

Question 35

Which therapeutic intervention focuses on altering dysfunctional thought patterns and behaviors commonly observed in schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Answer

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Answer

Family Systems Therapy

Answer

Psychodynamic Therapy

Question 36

A key characteristic of schizophrenic language disturbances is derailment, which refers to:

Accepted Answer

Abrupt and illogical shifts in topic during speech

Answer

Inventing new words with no meaning

Answer

Speaking in a monotone

Answer

Perseveration (repetitive use of words or phrases)

Question 37

Which of the following is a well-established risk factor for the development of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Family history of psychotic disorders

Answer

High socioeconomic status

Answer

Urban living environment

Answer

Introverted personality

Question 38

The primary mechanism of action of antipsychotic medications in the treatment of schizophrenia is to:

Accepted Answer

Block dopamine receptors in the brain, particularly in the mesolimbic pathway.

Answer

Increase serotonin levels in the synapse

Answer

Repair structural brain abnormalities

Answer

Reduce inflammation in the central nervous system

Question 39

The concept of "expressed emotion" in the context of schizophrenia refers to:

Accepted Answer

High levels of criticism, hostility, and emotional over-involvement from family members.

Answer

Denial of the diagnosis and refusal to seek treatment

Answer

Lack of empathy and understanding towards the person with schizophrenia.

Question 40

Current research findings suggest that individuals with schizophrenia often exhibit:

Accepted Answer

Enlarged ventricles and reduced gray matter volume in specific brain regions, particularly the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

Answer

No significant differences in brain structure compared to healthy individuals.