Classification Of Schizophrenia Flashcards
What is schizophrenia?
A severe mental illness where contact with reality and insight are impaired. It is characterised by incoherent or illogical thoughts, bizarre behaviour and speech, and delusions or hallucinations.
What is psychosis?
A term used to describe a severe mental health problem where the individual loses contact with reality
What’s the prevalence of schizophrenia?
- Affects around 1% of the population
- Men more likely to suffer than women
- The onset is typically in late adolescence and early adulthood
- Commonly diagnosed in cities and the working class
What are the 2 types of symptoms of schizophrenia?
Positive and negative
What are positive symptoms?
Those that appear to reflect an excess or distortion of normal functions
What are negative symptoms?
Those that appear to reflect a loss of normal functions
What are 2 positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
Delusions and hallucinations
What are delusions?
Irrational beliefs that are not based in reality (e.g. someone with schizophrenia may believe that they’re a victim of a grand conspiracy, or an important person with a unique mission (e.g. Christ reborn))
What are hallucinations?
Distorted perceptions of reality (e.g. someone with schizophrenia may hallucinate hearing voices that aren’t there, or seeing someone who isn’t really there)
What are 2 negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
Speech poverty and avolition
What is speech poverty?
A reduction in the quality and amount of speech (e.g. a person with schizophrenia may be less likely to initiate conversations or only give one word answers)
What is avolition?
A lack of desire or motivation for anything (apathy). (E.g. a person with schizophrenia may sit around without engaging in everyday tasks like work, socialising or maintaining personal hygiene)
How does the DSM-5 classify ‘speech poverty’?
Identifies it as a positive symptom with the name ‘Speech disorganisation’
