4.1 Schizophrenia (Diagnosis + Classification) Flashcards
What is schizophrenia?
A mental disorder where contact with reality and insight are impaired
Where is schizophrenia commonly diagnosed?
- In males
- In city-dwellers
- Lower socio-economic groups
What is the classification of a mental disorder?
The process of organizing symptoms into categories based on which symptoms frequently cluster together
What 2 systems are used to diagnose schizophrenia?
- International classification of disease (ICD-11)
- Diagnostic and statistical manual (DSM-5)
What is the difference between ICD and DSM?
For DSM, one positive symptom must be present whereas ICD requires two or more negative symptoms for diagnosis
What are positive symptoms?
Atypical symptoms experienced in addition to normal experiences
What are 2 positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
- Hallucinations: unusual sensory experiences which have no basis in reality
- Delusions: irrational beliefs
What are negative symptoms?
Atypical experiences that represent a loss of usual abilities/experiences
What are 2 negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
- Speech poverty: reduced frequency/quality of speech
- Avolition: loss of motivation to perform tasks/lower activity level
What is comorbidity?
The occurrence of two disorders or conditions together (e.g both schizophrenia and personality disorder)
What is symptom overlap?
When two or more conditions share symptoms
AO3 for diagnosis and classification of schizophrenia
1. Good reliability: reliability of diagnosis has improved, Osario et al - used DSM5 to diagnose schizophrenia in 180 individuals, pairs of interviewers achieved inter-rater=+97 and test-retest=+92, allows more reasonable application of diagnosis
2. Comorbidity: schizophrenia commonly diagnosed with other conditions, e.g research showed half diagnosed with schizophrenia also diagnosed with depression or substance abuse, not a distinct condition
3. Gender bias in diagnosis: since 1980s men have been more commonly diagnosed, women less vulnerable than men due to genetic factors, women form closer relationships and hence receive more support (Cotton et al), women with schizophrenia function better than men, underdiagnosis means women may not receive treatment/services
