City Vision College: Course 416 Key Study Guide
Chapter 6: The Psychotic and Cognitive Disorders (pages 81 – 98)
1. This chapter begins with this quote taken from Alcoholics Anonymous: “There are
those too who suffer from great emotional and mental disorders. They too are able to
recover if they have the capacity to be for honest.” What does that quote mean to
you? What does that quote say about addictions?
Clients with a Schizophrenic or Other Psychotic Disorder
2. Before you begin this section about schizophrenia, list below your understanding of
schizophrenia. For example, answer these questions:
o What does a person with schizophrenia look like?
o How do they behave?
o Do I have the prejudices or stereotypes of people with schizophrenia?
o How do I feel interacting with someone with a psychotic disorder?
o Do I feel comfortable treating clients with those diagnoses?
3. Treating schizophrenia is a great challenge. What contributes to that challenge?
4. Cardinal features of schizophrenia include substantial ________________ of clients’
thought processes as well as the ________________ of their thought.
5. What are the symptoms of schizophrenia as noted in the DSM-IV?
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o
o
o
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o
6. ________________ symptoms are a problem because of what is there and
________________ symptoms are a problem because of what is not there.
7. How long must symptoms be present to make the diagnosis of schizophrenia?
8. At what age does schizophrenia typically manifest itself?
9. True or false. Complete remission from schizophrenia is common.
10. What are the other five psychotic disorders listed in your text?
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o
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o
11. What is neurological “sensitization?”
12. What is “cross sensitization?”
13. How do you believe the client who has both “neurological sensitization” and “cross
sensitization” would complicate his or her treatment?
14. What are the 3 key issues for managing the person with schizophrenia and other
psychotic disorders?
o
o
o
15. About how many people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia also have a substance use
disorder?
16. What happens when substance abuse disorders interact with schizophrenic and other
psychotic disorders?
17. True or false. Even moderate drinking appears to be unsafe for this population.
18. What do you need to remember when counseling clients with both a psychotic and a
substance use disorder?
19. In what ways do you think that impaired thinking will effect the clients’ treatment?
20. Stressful situations and high demands often cause clients with schizophrenia to
disorganize. What are some techniques that you can utilize to help that client to
succeed in treatment?
21. True or false. Using lots of visual aids and keeping materials simple and concrete
will help clients with schizophrenia change their behaviors.
22. What does your textbook say about using “repetition” and “structure” during
treatment?
23. Which is more helpful during treatment: groups that use classroom methods to teach
topical issues or process groups?
24. True or false. Rates of comorbid major depression and suicidal ideation are high
among those suffering from schizophrenia.
25. How can denial of either or both illnesses be handled?
26. When should socialization activities be used in treating someone with schizophrenia?
27. Why do you believe the authors of your text suggest that families should be educated
about schizophrenia and chemical use/abuse?
28. True or false. Often, doing a comprehensive chemical dependency assessment with
someone who is psychotic will be well worth your time.
29. What may happen to a person who has schizophrenia and smokes marijuana?
30. What may happen when a person with schizophrenia abuses alcohol and discontinues
their medications?
31. Why should psychiatrists generally avoid prescribing a benzodiazepine to a dually
diagnosed person with schizophrenia?
32. Heavy confrontation with the person with schizophrenia who is in denial should be
avoided. What should you as the therapist do instead?
33. True or false. Going quickly through the 12 steps of recovery with a person with
schizophrenia is a realistic expectation.
34. From what type of AA group does a person with schizophrenia most often benefit?
35. What type of relapse prevention is most likely to benefit clients with schizophrenia?
36. What are the three phases of personal therapy?
Phase 1 involves:
Phase 2 involves:
Phase 3 involves:
37. Which clients generally do not benefit from personal therapy?
38. “Do not expect miracles, but do not leave prematurely.” What does that statement
mean to you regarding treating someone dually diagnosed with schizophrenia?
Clients with Dementia and Other Cognitive Disorders
39. What does the term “cognitive disorders” refer to?
40. What are the cognitive disorders associated with?
41. What is a cause of a cognitive disorder?
42. What are the essential features of dementia?
43. List the characteristics of withdrawal syndrome listed in your text on pages 93 and
94.
44. True or false. Cognitive deficits in alcoholics are usually corrected by time.
45. True or false. Abstinence is the only goal for the person with a cognitive disorder.
46. True or false. Keeping the step work concrete and simple will help in the treatment
of someone dually diagnosed with a cognitive disorder.