Classification and Diagnosis

Question 1

Define Schizophrenia

Answer 1

severe mental disorder where contact with reality and insights are impaired, example of psychosis

Schizo = split, Phrena = mind

Question 2

Define Psychosis

Answer 2

describe severe mental health problem, individual loses contact with reality, unaware of problems experiencing (opposite = neurosis)

Question 3

What classification systems are used in Psychology

Answer 3

ICD-10, DSM-5

Question 4

What are Positive Symptoms

Answer 4

Positive = additional experiences, beyond ordinary existence

Question 5

Examples of Positive Symptoms of SZPN

Answer 5

• Hallucinations (unusual sensory experiences)
• Delusions (irrational beliefs)
• Speech disorganisation (incoherent speech/change of topic mid-sentence)

Question 6

What are Negative Symptoms

Answer 6

Negative = loss of usual abilities/experiences

Question 7

Examples of Negative Symptoms of SZPN

Answer 7

• Speech poverty (reduced speech)
• Avolition (extreme lack of motivation/drive to engage in meaningful activities)

Question 8

What is a strength of SZPN diagnosis

Answer 8

GOOD RELIABILITY
different diagnosing clinicians = reach same diagnosis for an individual (inter-rater), on 2 occasions (test-retest)

strength = diagnosis of schizophrenia is consistently applied

potential counter = cultural variations
costa rican view on hearing voices interpreted as spirit talking to individual, USA = SZPN symptom (Malgady)

Question 9

What is a weakness of SZPN diagnosis

Answer 9

LOW VALIDITY
= ICD vs DSM diagnosis leads to diff. amount of diagnoses, suggests low criterion validity
= Suggests schizophrenia is either under/over diagnosed

Question 10

What study supports low validity for SZPN diagnosis, what study counters this?

Answer 10

Cheniaux et al. (2009)
2 psychiatrists assess 100 clients, psychiatrist that used ICD-10 = diagnosed 68, psychiatrist that use DSM-5 = diagnosed 39

Osorio et al. (2019)
reported excellent agreement between clinicians when used 2 measures to diagnose

Question 11

What is further weakness of classification/diagnosis of SZPN

Answer 11

CO-MORBIDITY
= schizophrenia commonly diagnosed with other disorders, e.g. depression or substance abuse (Buckley et al.), questions validity of diagnosis/classification
- May not exist as a distinct condition, some people diagnosed with it, may have an unusual case of co-condition, e.g. depression

Question 12

How does Symptoms Overlap link with Co-Morbidity

Answer 12

SYMPTOMS OVERLAP
= schizophrenia shares symptoms with bipolar disorder, makes it hard to distinguish between the 2
- Displays flaws in diagnosis/classification, again may not exist as distinct condition (both disorders could be variations of a singular one)