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Chapter 56. Schizophrenia
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Which of the following is/are accepted and reliable when diagnosing a patient with schizophrenia?
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a. Diagnosis can be confirmed by a laboratory measure such as a blood test.
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b. Diagnosis can be confirmed if the patient meets the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 (DSM-5) criteria for schizophrenia.
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c. Diagnosis can be confirmed by conducting a brain imaging study on the patient.
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d. Diagnosis can be confirmed by a physical examination.
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Answer b is correct. Using the DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing schizophrenia is the most reliable method of diagnosing patients with schizophrenia. In order for a patient to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, the patient must meet the diagnostic criteria stated in the DSM-5. This is currently the only accepted and reliable method for diagnosing schizophrenia.
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Answer a is incorrect. Currently there are no laboratory measures that can be used to detect or confirm schizophrenia.
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Answer c is incorrect. Currently brain imagining is not an accurate or accepted method for diagnosing schizophrenia.
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Answer d is incorrect. A physical examination is not an appropriate method used to confirm a schizophrenia diagnosis.
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Which of the following is the best way to reduce the risk of relapse?
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a. Acute treatment with antipsychotic therapy
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b. Acute treatment with nonpharmacologic therapy
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c. Maintenance treatment with nonpharmacologic therapy
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d. Maintenance treatment with antipsychotic therapy
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Answer d is correct. Most patients with schizophrenia require life-long antipsychotic treatment to adequately manage symptoms. Long-term treatment with an antipsychotic will treat schizophrenia and will help prevent the patient from relapsing.
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Answer a is incorrect. Acute treatment with antipsychotics temporarily treats and stabilizes the patient’s symptoms, but, in most cases, it is not adequate to prevent relapse.
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Answer b is incorrect. Non-pharmacologic therapy such as psychosocial support groups and programs may be useful when combined with antipsychotics; however, non-pharmacologic therapy by itself generally will not treat schizophrenia and prevent relapse. Acute treatment with non-pharmacologic therapy is not adequate to prevent relapse.
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Answer c is incorrect. Non-pharmacologic therapy, such as psychosocial support groups and programs, may be useful when combined with antipsychotics; however, non-pharmacologic therapy by itself generally will not treat schizophrenia and prevent relapse. Maintenance treatment with nonpharmacologic therapy is not adequate to prevent relapse.
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MY is a 27-year-old man who presents to his psychiatrist with symptoms associated with schizophrenia. MY reports to the psychiatrist that over the ...