classification of schizophrenia

Question 1

What is Schizophrenia a collection of?

Answer 1

. Sz does not have a single defining characteristic
. appears to be a collection of unrelated symptoms

Question 2

What are the two major systems for classification of mental disorders?

Answer 2

. International Classification of Disease ICD-11 - used UK
. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual DSM-5 - used in USA
. these differ slightly in their classification of Sz

Question 3

ICD-11

Answer 3

. two or more negative symptoms for one month or longer are sufficient for diagnosis (e.g. avolition)

. recognises subtypes of Sz
. e.g. paranoid Sz is characterised by powerful delusions/hallucinations
. WHEREAS catatonic Sz involves problems with movement - may be immobile for long period of time

Question 4

DSM-5

Answer 4

. one positive symptoms must be present for at least one month for diagnosis (e.g. delusions)

. does not categories Sz further into sub-types

Question 5

Positive symptoms

Answer 5

. additional symptoms - add to
. beyond those of ordinal existence
. e.g. hallucinations and delusions

Question 6

Hallucinations

Answer 6

. unusual sensory experiences
. no basis in reality
. can affect any senses
. e.g. auditory hallucinations - hearing voices not present
. e.g. visual hallucinations - seeing objects not present

Question 7

Delusions

Answer 7

. irrational/false beliefs
. no basis in reality
. make people with Sz behave ways that make sense to them but bizarre to others
. e.g. delusions of persecution - false belief being harassed (such as by government)
. e.g. delusions of control - false belief being controlled by something external (such as aliens)

Question 8

Negative symptoms

Answer 8

. a loss of usual abilities and experiences
. e.g. avolition and speech poverty

Question 9

Avolition

Answer 9

. severe loss of motivation
. to carry out everyday tasks
. difficulty to begin/keep up with goal directed activity
. Andreason identified 3 signs of avolition: poor hygiene/grooming, lack of energy, lack of persistence in work/education

Question 10

Speech poverty

Answer 10

. reduction in the amount and quality of speech
. sometimes accompanied by delay in verbal responses during conversation or lack of fluency (broken speech)