NRNP 6635 Final Exam – Schizophrenia
verified latest version 2026
• Schizophrenia -✓✓a psychological disorder characterized by delusions,
hallucinations, disorganized speech, and/or diminished inappropriate emotional
expression.
• signs and symptoms of schizophrenia -✓✓The signs and symptoms of
schizophrenia are traditionally separated into 2 groups: positive (delusions,
hallucinations, and disorganized speech or behavior) and negative (flat affect,
avolition, anhedonia, poor attention, and alogia).
• Schizophrenia is associated with -✓✓a decline in both cognitive and social
functioning that often precedes the development of florid psychosis.
• Etiology of Schizophrenia -✓✓The exact etiology of schizophrenia is unknown,
although it is thought to be linked to an increase in dopaminergic activity.
No single etiological factor is responsible for schizophrenia.
• Treatment of Schizophrenia -✓✓Treatment includes antipsychotics in
conjunction with behavioral therapy.
• Schizophrenia definition -✓✓Schizophrenia is a chronic serious mental disorder
characterized by loss of contact with reality and manifested by two main
symptoms: hallucinations and delusions.
• onset of schizophrenia -✓✓Men and women are equally affected, but with a
slight difference in the age of onsetMen: average age of onset = 23 years Women:
average age of onset = 26 years
• Etiological factors of schizophrenia -✓✓The disorder manifests when a person
with a genetic predisposition is exposed to one of many environmental stressors.
- genetic predisposition
- environmental stressors
• Environmental Stressors of Schizophrenia -✓✓Environmental stressors are
believed to be triggers of schizophrenia rather than true causes of the disorder.
, -Childhood trauma
- Residence in an urban area
- Social isolation
-Frequent cannabis use in early adolescence
- Migration
- Poverty
- Stress and psychosocial factors
- Birth in late winter or early spring
-Advanced paternal age at conception
• Pathophysiology of schizophrenia part 1 -✓✓Genetic and environmental risk
factors appear to act via a common pathway
of disrupting the function of 1 or more neurotransmitter components.
Dopaminergic theory: Almost all drugs with antipsychotic properties block the
dopaminergic D2 receptor.
However, antipsychotics are only 70% effective and clozapine, the most effective
antipsychotic for treating schizophrenia, is a weak D2 antagonist.
Hyperactivity of dopamine D2 receptor neurotransmission in subcortical, and
limbic brain regions contribute to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Hypo
functionality of dopamine D1 receptor neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex
contributes to both negative and cognitive symptoms.
• Pathophysiology of schizophrenia part 2 -✓✓Other theories:
Hypofunction of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor.
Dysfunctional gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) interneurons.
Dysfunctional nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
• Physical abnormalities of the brain in schizophrenia -✓✓Patients with
schizophrenia also have physical abnormalities of the brain tissue, which can be
seen in neuroimaging studies.
Loss of cortical tissue volume, including the limbic system, prefrontal cortex,
thalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala.
Ventricular enlargement (third and lateral).
Decreased symmetry.
Hypoactivity of the frontal lobes and hyperactivity of the basal ganglia.
• Clinical Presentation of schizophrenia -✓✓Impairment of thoughts and affect,
characterized by a distorted perception of reality.
verified latest version 2026
• Schizophrenia -✓✓a psychological disorder characterized by delusions,
hallucinations, disorganized speech, and/or diminished inappropriate emotional
expression.
• signs and symptoms of schizophrenia -✓✓The signs and symptoms of
schizophrenia are traditionally separated into 2 groups: positive (delusions,
hallucinations, and disorganized speech or behavior) and negative (flat affect,
avolition, anhedonia, poor attention, and alogia).
• Schizophrenia is associated with -✓✓a decline in both cognitive and social
functioning that often precedes the development of florid psychosis.
• Etiology of Schizophrenia -✓✓The exact etiology of schizophrenia is unknown,
although it is thought to be linked to an increase in dopaminergic activity.
No single etiological factor is responsible for schizophrenia.
• Treatment of Schizophrenia -✓✓Treatment includes antipsychotics in
conjunction with behavioral therapy.
• Schizophrenia definition -✓✓Schizophrenia is a chronic serious mental disorder
characterized by loss of contact with reality and manifested by two main
symptoms: hallucinations and delusions.
• onset of schizophrenia -✓✓Men and women are equally affected, but with a
slight difference in the age of onsetMen: average age of onset = 23 years Women:
average age of onset = 26 years
• Etiological factors of schizophrenia -✓✓The disorder manifests when a person
with a genetic predisposition is exposed to one of many environmental stressors.
- genetic predisposition
- environmental stressors
• Environmental Stressors of Schizophrenia -✓✓Environmental stressors are
believed to be triggers of schizophrenia rather than true causes of the disorder.
, -Childhood trauma
- Residence in an urban area
- Social isolation
-Frequent cannabis use in early adolescence
- Migration
- Poverty
- Stress and psychosocial factors
- Birth in late winter or early spring
-Advanced paternal age at conception
• Pathophysiology of schizophrenia part 1 -✓✓Genetic and environmental risk
factors appear to act via a common pathway
of disrupting the function of 1 or more neurotransmitter components.
Dopaminergic theory: Almost all drugs with antipsychotic properties block the
dopaminergic D2 receptor.
However, antipsychotics are only 70% effective and clozapine, the most effective
antipsychotic for treating schizophrenia, is a weak D2 antagonist.
Hyperactivity of dopamine D2 receptor neurotransmission in subcortical, and
limbic brain regions contribute to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Hypo
functionality of dopamine D1 receptor neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex
contributes to both negative and cognitive symptoms.
• Pathophysiology of schizophrenia part 2 -✓✓Other theories:
Hypofunction of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor.
Dysfunctional gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) interneurons.
Dysfunctional nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
• Physical abnormalities of the brain in schizophrenia -✓✓Patients with
schizophrenia also have physical abnormalities of the brain tissue, which can be
seen in neuroimaging studies.
Loss of cortical tissue volume, including the limbic system, prefrontal cortex,
thalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala.
Ventricular enlargement (third and lateral).
Decreased symmetry.
Hypoactivity of the frontal lobes and hyperactivity of the basal ganglia.
• Clinical Presentation of schizophrenia -✓✓Impairment of thoughts and affect,
characterized by a distorted perception of reality.
