AP Psychology : Schizophrenia

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Schizophrenia

Which of the following choices best describes a negative symptom of schizophrenia?

Possible Answers:

Inappropriate effect, where one reacts inappropriately in certain situations such as laughing at someone's death

Hallucinations, where one believes there are things that are present which are not

Delusions, believing you possess certain powers or abilities that others do not

A flat effect, where one displays no emotion 

Correct answer:

A flat effect, where one displays no emotion 

Explanation:

A negative symptom is a symptom that represents something that the sufferer does not have but is regularly found in unaffected people. In the case of a schizophrenic, he or she may not display any emotion where an unaffected person would. This is known as a "flat effect.” 

Example Question #12 : Schizophrenia

Which of the following choices best describes the primary and identifying symptom of paranoid schizophrenia?

Possible Answers:

Parrot behavior where the affected person repeats whatever is said to them

A distorted use of language

Delusions of someone or something "coming to get" the affected person

None of these

Correct answer:

Delusions of someone or something "coming to get" the affected person

Explanation:

There are four types of schizophrenia, one of them being paranoid schizophrenia. The identifying and differentiating symptom of paranoid schizophrenia is the delusion that someone or something is “out to get” the person with the disorder.

Example Question #13 : Schizophrenia

Which of the following types of delusions are not associated with schizophrenia?

Possible Answers:

All of these

Delusions of reference

Delusions of persecution

Delusions of grandeur

Correct answer:

All of these

Explanation:

A schizophrenic is susceptible to certain kinds of delusions—namely those of grandeur, reference, and persecution. Delusions of grandeur lead the schizophrenic to believe they are greater than they are such as thinking they are a prophet or a god. Those of reference may lead them to believe secret messages are being sent to them and they must decode them. Those of persecution incite the paranoid belief that people are out to get them.

Example Question #14 : Schizophrenia

Which of the following choices best describes a a positive symptom of schizophrenia?

Possible Answers:

Catatonia, where one has no body movements

None of these

Hallucinations where one believes something is there that is not

Obsessive fixation on cleanliness

Correct answer:

Hallucinations where one believes something is there that is not

Explanation:

A positive symptom is something that is present in the affected person that is not normally found in unaffected persons. Essentially, it's not positive in the sense of "good" but of something being added. One out of several positive symptoms of schizophrenia is the presence of delusional thinking, where one thinks there are things that are present that actually are not.

Example Question #15 : Schizophrenia

Which of the following is an example of a positive symptom of schizophrenia?

Possible Answers:

Withdrawal from social groups

A new feeling of paranoia and paranoid behaviors

Flattened affect and decreased social awareness

A decrease in self-inflected harm behaviors

Correct answer:

A new feeling of paranoia and paranoid behaviors

Explanation:

A positive symptom is a gained behavior, while a negative symptom is a loss of normal function. The gained paranoia behaviors are therefore 'positive.'

Example Question #16 : Schizophrenia

Which of the following is not a structural trait of the brain of an individual with schizophrenia?

Possible Answers:

Smaller amygdala

Smaller hippocampus, often disorganized cells

Enlarged ventricles 

Lack of a cerebellum

Correct answer:

Lack of a cerebellum

Explanation:

Schizophrenia is marked by several unique brain traits, including: 

Enlarged ventricles 

Small/disorganized hippocampus

Small amygdala

The absence of a cerebellum would result in serious motor function deficits, but is absolutely not characteristic of the brains of patients with schizophrenia.

Example Question #17 : Schizophrenia

Which of the following is the most common type of sensory hallucination?

Possible Answers:

Auditory

Tactile

Gustatory

Visual

Olfactory

Correct answer:

Auditory

Explanation:

Many people with schizophrenia have hallucinations, which can be defined as sensory experiences without sensory stimulation. Although auditory, visual, tactile (touch), gustatory (taste), and olfactory (smell) hallucinations are all possible, auditory hallucinations, particularly hearing voices that no one else can hear, are by far the most common.

Example Question #18 : Schizophrenia

Which of the following is classified as a positive symptom of schizophrenia?

Possible Answers:

Avolition

Delusions

Apathy

Flat affect

Monotone speech

Correct answer:

Delusions

Explanation:

Schizophrenia has positive symptoms (characteristics that do not exist in neurotypical people) and negative symptoms (the lack of something that neurotypical people have). Therefore, hallucinations or delusions are a positive symptom, whereas flat affect (lack of facial expressions), apathy (lack of passion), avolition (lack of motivation), and monotone speech (lack of tone variance in speech) are all negative symptoms. 

Example Question #19 : Schizophrenia

Which of the following best identify the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

Possible Answers:

Asociality and hallucinations

Hallucinations and depression 

Hallucinations and delusions

Asociality and delusions

Depression and delusions

Correct answer:

Hallucinations and delusions

Explanation:

Positive symptoms are characteristics that are in excess or beyond typical experience. Hallucinations and delusions are not typically experienced in daily life, while depression is a decreased ability to feel pleasure and asociality is defined as a decrease in social integration.

Example Question #20 : Schizophrenia

Which of the following is not a negative symptom of schizophrenia?

Possible Answers:

Diminished speech

Diminished emotional expression

Social withdrawal

Diminished appetite

Lack of motivation and pleasure in previously enjoyed activities

Correct answer:

Diminished appetite

Explanation:

Negative symptoms are thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that are present in the average person but diminished in a person with a mental disorder. Diminished appetite is the only option that is not a negative symptom of schizophrenia.

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