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The Clinical Presentation of Psychotic Disorders Bob Boland MD
Slide 1
Psychotic Disorders
Slide 2 Archetype
As with all the disorders, it is preferable to pick one “archetypal” disorder for the category of disorder, understand it well, and then know the others as they compare. For the psychotic disorders, the diagnosis we will concentrate on will be Schizophrenia.
Slide 3 Phenomenology
- The mental status exam
- Appearance
- Mood
- Thought
- Cognition
- Judgment and Insight
A good way to organize discussions of phenomenology is by using the same structure as the mental status examination.
Slide 4 Appearance
- Motor disturbances
- Catatonia
- Stereotypy• Mannerisms
- Behavioral problems• Hygiene
- “Soft signs”
Motor disturbances include disorders of mobility, activity and volition. Catatonic stupor is a state in which patients are immobile, mute, yet conscious. They exhibit waxy flexibility, or assumption of bizarre postures as most dramatic example. Catatonic excitement is uncontrolled and aimless motor activity. It is important to differentiate from substance-induced movement disorders, such as extrapyramidal symptoms and tardive dyskinesia.
Slide 5 Appearance
- Behavioral Problems• Social functioning
- Other– Ex. Neuro soft signs
Disorders of behavior may involve deterioration of social functioning-- social withdrawal, self neglect, neglect of environment (deterioration of housing, etc.), or socially inappropriate behaviors (talking to themselves in public, obscene language, exposing self). Substance abuse is another disorder of behavior. Patients may abuse cigarettes, alcohol or other substances; substance abuse is associated with poor treatment compliance, and may be a form of "self-medication" for negative symptoms or medication effects.
Slide 6 Mood and Affect
- Affective flattening
- Anhedonia
- Inappropriate Affect
Disorders of mood and affect include affective flattening , which is a reduced intensity of emotional expression and response that leaves patients indifferent and apathetic. Typically, one sees unchanging facial expression, decreased spontaneous movements, poverty of expressive gestures, poor eye contact, lack of vocal inflections, and slowed speech. Anhedonia, or the inability to experience pleasure, is also common, as is emotional emptiness. Patients may also exhibit inappropriate affect. Depression may occur in as many as 60% of schizophrenics. It is difficult to diagnose, as it overlaps with (negative) symptoms of schizophrenia and medication side effects.
Slide 9 Other associative problems
- Perseveration
- Distractibility
- Clanging
- Neologisms
Other types of formal thought disorder have been identified, including perseveration, distractibility, clanging, neologisms, echolalia, and blocking. With the possible exception of clanging in mania, none appears to be specific to a particular disorder.
Slide 10 Thought Content
Disorders of Thought Content include hallucinations and delusions ..
Slide 11 Hallucinations
Hallucinations are perceptions without external stimuli. They are most commonly auditory, but may be any type. Auditory hallucinations are commonly voices, mumbled or distinct. Visual hallucinations can be simple or complex, in or outside field of vision (ex. "in head") and are usually normal color. Olfactory and gustatory are usually together--unpleasant taste and smell. Tactile or haptic hallucinations include any sensation--electrical, or the feeling of bugs on skin (formication). These are common across all cultures and backgrounds; however, culture may influence content
Slide 12 Delusions^
Delusions are fixed, false beliefs, not amendable by logic or experience. There are a variety of types. Delusions are most commonly persecutory, but may be somatic, grandiose, religious or nihilistic. They are influenced by culture, and none is specific to any one disorder (such as schizophrenia).
(The cartoon is an example of a delusion of reference: that something that is independent of you is in fact intended for you. WE often get at these by asking patients whether the television or radio seems to be sending them messages.)
Slide 13
Comparing types of Though Disorders:
2 video examples demonstrating first a disorder of thought process, and then one of content.
Slide 14 Cognitions
Among other disorders of cognition is lack of insight. Truly psychotic persons have a breakdown in this ability to rationally critique their own thoughts. This may best distinguish psychotic disorders (like Schizophrenia) from "normal" hallucinations and delusions.
Other cognitive symptoms are usually normal (for example, orientation and memory). However, IQ usually is less than normal population for their age; it does not tend to decline over time. And there appear to be subtle cognitive deficits in persons with psychotic disorders. For example for years investigators have noticed deficits frontal tasks (see Dr. Malloy’s lecture on frontal lobes) such as difficulties with pattern recognition.
Slide 16 Positive versus Negative Sxs
It is important to differentiate positive symptoms of schizophrenia from negative symptoms. Positive symptoms are disorders of commission, including things patients do or think. Examples are hallucinations, delusions, marked positive formal thought disorder (manifested by marked incoherence, derailment, tangentiality, or illogicality), and bizarre or disorganized behavior.
Slide 17 Negative Symptoms
- Alogia
- Affective flattening
- Anhedonia
- Avolition/apathy
Negative symptoms are disorders of omission: things patients don't do. Negative symptoms include alogia (i.e., marked poverty of speech, or poverty of content of speech), affective flattening, anhedonia or asociality (i.e., inability to experience pleasure, few social contacts), avolition or apathy (i.e., anergia, lack of persistence at work or school), and attentional impairment. The relevance of these symptoms is unclear. Perhaps they represent independent subtypes of schizophrenia? Probably not. Different stages of disease? Maybe--positive symptoms tend to occur early on, negative symptoms later. Most patients have a mix of symptoms.
Slide 18 Epidemiology
- 1% prevalence
- Genders
- Socioeconomic
There is an overall 0.7% incidence of "Nonaffective Psychosis" in the National Comorbidity Study. This study included schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder and atypical psychosis.
Schizophrenia has about 1% lifetime prevalence in ECA studies. There is a lower incidence (chronic disorder): 1/10,000/year. Incidence is equal across gender, but men may get it earlier. It most commonly starts in late adolescence/early adulthood. It rarely occurs in children. Women are more likely to get late onset. Generally, this version tends to have better psychosocial functioning. Schizophrenia occurs throughout the world, regardless of site or culture.
Schizophreniform Disorder has a lifetime prevalence of 0.2%, with 1-year prevalence of 0.1%. Otherwise, it is similar in epidemiology to Schizophrenia.
Schizoaffective Disorder is probably less common than Schizophrenia. There is little data about the community prevalence of Delusional Disorders. However, lifetime prevalence appears to be 0.03%. Clinical studies show delusional disorder to be 1-2% of inpatient psychiatric admissions.
Brief Psychotic Disorder and Shared Psychotic Disorder also have little information and are probably rare. Shared Psychotic Disorder may go unrecognized in clinical settings; it is also probably more common in women.
Psychotic Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition, and Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder are both probably common, particularly in clinical settings.
Slide 21 Diagnosis
- “A Criteria”
- Two or more:
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganized speech
- Disorganized behavior
- Negative symptoms
The "A" Criteria of Schizophrenia basically says that, to have schizophrenia, you have to have been psychotic at some point. They define psychosis as having one of the following symptoms:
delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized behavior/catatonia, and negative symptoms
You have to have had at least 2 of these symptoms to meet the criteria. Or, if you have really bad hallucinations or delusions, that’s good enough.
Slide 22 Schizophrenia Subtypes
- Catatonic
- Disorganized
- Paranoid
- Undifferentiated
- Residual
There are certain subtypes of the disorder as well. The purpose of subtyping is to improve prediction of likely effective treatment and/or course of illness. The types are listed as follows:
Paranoid subtype: a preoccupation with one or more delusions or frequent auditory hallucinations; disorganized speech/behavior, catatonic behavior, and flat or inappropriate affect are not prominent. Disorganized subtype: characterized by disorganized speech and behavior, and flat or inappropriate affect; it does not meet the criteria for catatonic schizophrenia. Catatonic subtype: dominated by at least two of the following: motoric immobility as evidenced by catalepsy or stupor, excessive motor activity, extreme negativism or mutism, peculiarities of voluntary movement (e.g., stereotypies, mannerisms, grimacing) and echolalia or echopraxia. Undifferentiated subtype: which is a residual category for patients meeting criteria for schizophrenia but not meeting criteria for the paranoid, disorganized, or catatonic subtypes. The residual subtype: as described in DSM- IV is used for patients who no longer have prominent psychotic symptoms but who once
met criteria for schizophrenia and have continuing evidence of illness.
Slide 23 Other Diagnosis
- Schizophreniform
- Schizoaffective
- Brief Psychotic
- Delusional Disorders
- Shared Psychoses
- Psychosis due to something’ else
Schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder. (that may not be exactly true: “secondary psychotic disorders”, that is, psychotic disorders caused by drugs or medical disorders are probably more common, but they are rarely studied, so we know less about them). However, there are other psychotic disorders, and these should be differentiated from schizophrenia: Schizophreniform disorder is like Schizophrenia except the duration is between 1 and 6 months (prodrome + episode + residual). If the duration is less than 1 month it is Brief Psychotic Disorder. Impaired psychosocial functioning is not required for the diagnosis; probably about 2/3 go on to become Schizophrenics. Schizoaffective Disorder has symptoms of both Schizophrenia and of a Mood Episode:. It fulfills symptoms of "Criterion A" of Schizophrenia. For diagnosis, at some point, psychotic symptoms have to be independent of mood (for at least 2 weeks). Symptoms of a Mood Episode may include either manic, depressed or mixed symptoms. These have to occur for a "substantial" amount of time; otherwise patient might be a depressed schizophrenic. Delusional Disorder is a disorder in which patients present with persistent delusions. Delusions are nonbizarre, thus differentiating this from schizophrenia. Hallucinations are not prominent. Generally, psychosocial functioning is okay, except for direct impact of delusion (ex. Might not go on bus, because thinks people talking about them). Brief Psychotic Disorder is different in that the psychotic symptoms last for less than a month and there is full remission by one month. Shared Psychotic Disorder is also called Folie á Deux and has two components. The inducer or primary case is a person already has some delusional disorder. Also, a second person, in close relationship with the inducer, comes to share the delusion. This person is usually in a dependent relationship with the inducer. This person rarely seeks treatment; rather, shared psychotic disorder comes to attention when the inducer is treated. Treatment is to separate this person from the inducer. Psychotic Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition includes hallucinations or delusions that are directly secondary to a medical disorder. One must differentiate this from Delirium, in which delusions or hallucinations can occur, but are part of the delirium. In Psychotic Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition, the psychosis occurs in a clear sensorium. Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder has the same story as
Slide 25 Comorbidity
- Depression
- Substance Abuse
Comorbidity is very common. In one study of new onset psychosis, about 50% of patients had some other medical or psychiatric disorder. The most common of these are substance abuse and mood disorders. Substance Abuse is more common in the general population and is associated with poorer outcome. Most often it is alcohol abuse. Mood disorders are also common; 60% of Schizophrenics are reported to have depressive symptoms. But depression is difficult to diagnose, as it can be comorbid with Schizophrenia, be Schizoaffective, or can be the primary disorder (Major Depression with Psychotic Features) depending on one's assessment of its relative predominance. Medical disorders are also more common in psychotic individuals than in the general population (17% in one study). These patients tend to be older. The effect on outcome depends; in first episode cases, it may predict better outcome. However, in chronic disorders, it is probably associated with a poorer outcome.
Slide 26
Course and Prognosis
Slide 27 Course of Schizophrenia
- Begins
- Late teens, young adulthood
- Men versus women
- Older onsets
Schizophrenia is generally a disease of early adulthood, making it very devastating, as it affects people just as their mature lives are beginning. It usually starts in the late teens, or early 20’s, though it can occur later. It tends to occur earlier in men than women, so it isn’t as unusual to see a woman begin to show signs of schizophrenia in her late twenties or thirties. It rarely begins after 40, though there are reported cases. If an elderly person presents with psychosis, the psychotic disorder is much more likely to be due to something else (or, the history is incomplete).
Slide 28 Course of Schizophrenia^
Schizophrenia has three stages of disease: prodromal phase, active phase and residual phase. Prodromal phase may precedes the active phase of illness by many years. It is characterized by social withdrawal and other subtle changes in behavior and emotional responsiveness. Active phase has psychotic symptoms ("Criterion A"), which predominate. Residual phase is similar to the prodromal phase, although affective flattening and role impairment may be worse. Psychotic symptoms may persist, but at a lower level of intensity, and they may not be as troublesome to the patient. Symptoms tend to change over time. The preponderance of positive symptoms occur early. Over time patients develop more negative or deficit symptoms.
Slide 31 Positive Predictors
- Acute onset
- Short duration
- Good premorbid functioning
- Affective symptoms
- Good social functioning
- High social class
It is important to consider positive and negative predictors of course when determining prognosis. Most of these make sense and are true of most illnesses. That is, diseases that strike suddenly, and for short duration in persons who are otherwise high functioning with good resources are going to be less severe than the opposite.
Slide 32 Poor Predictors
- Insidious onset
- Long duration
- Family hx of psych illness
- Obsessions/Compulsions
- Assaultive Behavior
- Poor premorbid functioning
- Neurologic/anatomic abn.
- Low social class
The poor predictors, or predictors of a bad course, are mostly opposites of the good predictors.
Slide 33 More Examples
Slide 34 Schizophrenia Subtypes
- Catatonic
- Disorganized
- Paranoid
- Undifferentiated
- Residual
A reminder of the schizophrenic subtypes. Video examples will follow--the audience should comment on the prominent symptoms and likely subtype.
