Exam 3: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

Eighteen year-old Patricia Wilson was taken to the North Shore emergency room by her family after she complained that she couldn't sleep because of the "voices" she heard. She couldn't really say what the voices were saying but the family reported that Patricia went on rambling and they could not understand her conversations. For the past six months Patricia's family tried to ignore these symptoms but became more worried as the symptoms continued. Their concerns became more emergent when Patricia started talking gibberish, giggled inappropriately, made silly faces, and neglected her hygiene and appearance.

The following factor is most closely related to relapse in persons with schizophrenia.

Georgio Ferrari displays loose associations, tangentiality, inappropriate affect and disorganized behavior. Georgio is most likely diagnosed with:

Sue Anne Brinkley is an eighteen-year old college freshman enrolled at Camyron State University. She presents herself at the campus counseling center following the unexpected death of her best friend. She exhibits the following symptoms --- disturbance in her thought process tangential thinking) as well as delusions of grandeur she believes herself to be Joan of Arc) and bizarre behaviors repeatedly cleaning her sorority house stove with a toothbrush). According to her roommate, Alison, these symptoms started about eight or nine days ago approximately 36 hours after hearing the news of her best friend's death). Sue Anne has no prior history of mental illness and her level of premorbid functioning was noted as "excellent." Based on this information, what do you believe is Sue Anne's most likely diagnosis?

Zoe, aged twenty-two, gave birth to her first child, Alexa, four days ago. Zoe's initial complaints included insomnia, restlessness, and emotional labiality which progressed to confusion, irritability, delusions, and thoughts of wanting to kill her baby. Which diagnosis would you consider first?

Johann Wojcik emigrated from Poland ten years ago. His past mental health history is unknown. According to the police, he was found sitting motionless in the middle of the highway. He was taken by the mobile crisis unit to the state mental hospital where he refuses to make eye contact, is mute, resists attempts to be moved and does not interact or participate in any way. Which of the following would be your beginning diagnosis?

During your intake interview with Sylvia Martin you notice that it takes a very long time for her to respond. Sylvia is displaying avolition.

Persons who meets the full criteria for a diagnosis of schizophrenia, and also have a significant mood disturbance lasting for more than two weeks should be diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder.

Tom Wang has experienced disorganized speech and delusions for the past three months. After this time period, his symptoms quickly disappeared without any treatment and he was able to return to his job at the fast food restaurant. Tom would most likely receive a diagnosis of:

Ozell Turner has been re-hospitalized with schizophrenia. The social worker indicated on his chart that he had been pathologically repeating the same cluster of words over, and over, and over again. This is an example of:

This symptom of schizophrenia includes the pathological imitation and repetition of another person's movements. What is this called?

Josette's mother, Erlange St. Villien, has been having delusional beliefs that some kind of highly specialized radio transmitter was inserted into her tooth filling as part of an experiment being conducted by aliens from the planet Mars. Up until five months ago, Josette tried to convince her mother that the radio transmitter really did not exist. However, Josette has changed her mind and now believes that her mother's story is true. Josette is most likely experiencing:

Sammie Arnold Carvey has the major symptoms of schizophrenia but she does not meet full criteria for any of the disorders in the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders diagnostic class. How would you list her diagnosis?

Schizophrenia, specified with catatonia, describes a person who can sit for hours on end virtually motionless, refuses to make eye contact and resists attempts to be moved.

Meghan Carpenter once met the full criteria for schizophrenia. Currently, she no longer has pronounced symptoms of catatonic behavior, delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech or behavior. She occasionally exhibits odd beliefs and peculiarities of behavior. What would be the correct diagnosis?

Schizophreniform disorder refers to prodomal, active, and residual schizophrenia symptoms that have existed for less than six months duration.

Alphonso de la Portia has been experiencing abnormal, involuntary, irregular movements of the muscles of his head, limbs and trunk. His symptoms include twisting, chewing, and thrusting movements of his tongue. The only other relevant information the social worker knows is he has been on long-term anti-psychotic medication Thorazine). This disorder is known as:

Tardive dyskinesia includes the voluntary movement of one's head, neck and limbs manifested by long-term antipsychotic medication.

Schizoaffective disorder requires an uninterrupted period of illness during which symptoms of schizophrenia Criterion A - delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior, negative symptoms such as diminished emotional expression or avolition) are present. Which of the following symptoms must be present to complete the diagnostic criteria for schizoaffective disorder?

In order to meet the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia, those characteristic symptoms of the active phase need to be present in the individual for at least: