Sample Questions and Answers
Which of the following is a positive symptom of schizophrenia?
a) Affective flattening
b) Hallucinations
c) Apathy
d) Anhedonia
Answer: b) Hallucinations
What is the primary neurotransmitter implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia?
a) Serotonin
b) Dopamine
c) Norepinephrine
d) GABA
Answer: b) Dopamine
Which of the following is a negative symptom of schizophrenia?
a) Delusions
b) Disorganized speech
c) Apathy
d) Hallucinations
Answer: c) Apathy
Which of the following antipsychotic medications is considered a second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic?
a) Haloperidol
b) Risperidone
c) Chlorpromazine
d) Fluphenazine
Answer: b) Risperidone
Which of the following best describes the term ‘catatonia’ in schizophrenia?
a) A state of severe memory loss
b) Uncontrolled movement or excessive physical activity
c) Lack of movement or response to external stimuli
d) Rapid, pressured speech
Answer: c) Lack of movement or response to external stimuli
What is the DSM-5 diagnostic criterion for schizophrenia regarding symptom duration?
a) Symptoms must be present for at least 3 months
b) Symptoms must be present for at least 6 months
c) Symptoms must be present for at least 12 months
d) Symptoms must be present for at least 1 month
Answer: b) Symptoms must be present for at least 6 months
Which of the following is a common comorbidity seen in individuals with schizophrenia?
a) Hypertension
b) Diabetes
c) Substance use disorders
d) Asthma
Answer: c) Substance use disorders
Which of the following is a hallmark feature of disorganized schizophrenia?
a) Catatonic behavior
b) Bizarre and incoherent speech
c) Extreme paranoia
d) Grandiose delusions
Answer: b) Bizarre and incoherent speech
In schizophrenia, auditory hallucinations are most commonly experienced as:
a) Voices that are critical or command-like
b) Visual images of people
c) Bodily sensations
d) Distorted perceptions of sound
Answer: a) Voices that are critical or command-like
Which of the following is a known risk factor for schizophrenia?
a) Physical trauma
b) Genetic predisposition
c) Excessive vitamin D
d) High socioeconomic status
Answer: b) Genetic predisposition
Schizoaffective disorder is best characterized by:
a) Psychotic symptoms without mood disturbance
b) Mood disturbances with psychotic symptoms occurring simultaneously or within the same episode
c) Symptoms of schizophrenia lasting for less than 6 months
d) A mood disorder without any psychotic features
Answer: b) Mood disturbances with psychotic symptoms occurring simultaneously or within the same episode
What is the first-line pharmacological treatment for schizophrenia?
a) Antidepressants
b) Antipsychotics
c) Benzodiazepines
d) Mood stabilizers
Answer: b) Antipsychotics
The “dopamine hypothesis” of schizophrenia suggests that:
a) Dopamine activity is reduced in the brain
b) Dopamine is overactive in certain brain regions
c) Dopamine does not play a role in schizophrenia
d) Dopamine is only involved in the positive symptoms of schizophrenia
Answer: b) Dopamine is overactive in certain brain regions
Which type of schizophrenia is most likely to involve marked disorganization of speech and behavior?
a) Paranoid schizophrenia
b) Disorganized schizophrenia
c) Catatonic schizophrenia
d) Residual schizophrenia
Answer: b) Disorganized schizophrenia
Which of the following symptoms is associated with a poor prognosis in schizophrenia?
a) Late onset of illness
b) High social support
c) Prominent negative symptoms
d) High levels of functioning before illness onset
Answer: c) Prominent negative symptoms
What is the purpose of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in the treatment of schizophrenia?
a) To reduce hallucinations and delusions
b) To improve cognitive functioning
c) To provide social skills training
d) To address thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with psychotic symptoms
Answer: d) To address thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with psychotic symptoms
Which of the following is an example of a delusion often seen in schizophrenia?
a) Believing that one’s thoughts are being controlled by others
b) Experiencing vivid visual images of people
c) Having an exaggerated belief in one’s own abilities
d) Believing that external events are personally relevant
Answer: a) Believing that one’s thoughts are being controlled by others
Which of the following antipsychotics is associated with a higher risk of metabolic side effects such as weight gain and diabetes?
a) Olanzapine
b) Haloperidol
c) Quetiapine
d) Lurasidone
Answer: a) Olanzapine
Which of the following is a key feature of catatonia in schizophrenia?
a) Rapid speech and agitation
b) Lack of movement and response to external stimuli
c) Compulsive movements and rituals
d) Elevated mood and energy levels
Answer: b) Lack of movement and response to external stimuli
In schizophrenia, the negative symptoms are best treated with:
a) First-generation antipsychotics
b) Second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics
c) Antidepressants
d) Mood stabilizers
Answer: b) Second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics
Which of the following statements about the genetic risk of schizophrenia is true?
a) Schizophrenia is only caused by environmental factors
b) The risk of schizophrenia is higher among individuals with a first-degree relative with the disorder
c) Only identical twins are at risk for schizophrenia
d) Schizophrenia has no genetic component
Answer: b) The risk of schizophrenia is higher among individuals with a first-degree relative with the disorder
Which of the following is considered a “first-generation” (typical) antipsychotic?
a) Clozapine
b) Risperidone
c) Haloperidol
d) Olanzapine
Answer: c) Haloperidol
What is a common side effect of long-term antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia?
a) Tremors and muscle rigidity
b) Hyperactivity
c) Sleep disturbances
d) Reduced appetite
Answer: a) Tremors and muscle rigidity
Which of the following is true about the prognosis of schizophrenia?
a) Most individuals with schizophrenia recover fully with treatment
b) Schizophrenia typically improves without any form of treatment
c) Schizophrenia is generally a lifelong condition with fluctuating episodes
d) Schizophrenia only affects older adults
Answer: c) Schizophrenia is generally a lifelong condition with fluctuating episodes
Which is the most likely initial symptom of schizophrenia?
a) Catatonia
b) Social withdrawal and decline in functioning
c) Visual hallucinations
d) Increased energy levels
Answer: b) Social withdrawal and decline in functioning
Which of the following is a characteristic of residual schizophrenia?
a) Severe positive symptoms
b) Complete absence of symptoms
c) Mild symptoms that persist after an acute phase
d) Onset during childhood
Answer: c) Mild symptoms that persist after an acute phase
Which of the following is a known environmental risk factor for schizophrenia?
a) High dietary intake of fruits and vegetables
b) Prenatal exposure to viral infections
c) Participation in physical exercise
d) Early childhood exposure to heavy metals
Answer: b) Prenatal exposure to viral infections
Which of the following best describes the type of hallucinations most commonly experienced in schizophrenia?
a) Auditory hallucinations
b) Tactile hallucinations
c) Visual hallucinations
d) Olfactory hallucinations
Answer: a) Auditory hallucinations
The use of cannabis has been linked to an increased risk of developing schizophrenia in individuals with:
a) A history of depression
b) No family history of mental illness
c) A genetic predisposition to schizophrenia
d) A previous history of psychotic symptoms
Answer: c) A genetic predisposition to schizophrenia
What is a common characteristic of paranoid schizophrenia?
a) Bizarre and disorganized behavior
b) Extreme suspiciousness and delusions of persecution
c) Lack of emotional expression
d) Severe memory loss
Answer: b) Extreme suspiciousness and delusions of persecution
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