Classification of schizophrenia

Question 1

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

Answer 1

The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10)
The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5)

Question 2

How does the DSM-5 classify schizophrenia?

Answer 2

In the DSM-5, one of the positive symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, or speech disorganisation) must be present for a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Question 3

How does the ICD-10 classify schizophrenia?

Answer 3

In the ICD-10, the diagnosis of schizophrenia requires the presence of two or more negative symptoms (such as avolition or speech poverty).

Question 4

What subtypes of schizophrenia does the ICD-10 recognize?

Answer 4

Paranoid schizophrenia (powerful delusions and hallucinations but few other symptoms)
Hebephrenic schizophrenia (primarily negative symptoms)
Catatonic schizophrenia (disturbance to movement, either immobile or overactive)

Question 5

Does the DSM-5 recognize subtypes of schizophrenia?

Answer 5

No, the DSM-5 dropped the subtypes of schizophrenia and does not classify them.

Question 6

What are the two types of schizophrenia?

Answer 6

Type 1 (acute form): Characterized by positive symptoms and a good response to medication.
Type 2 (chronic type): Characterized by negative symptoms and a poor response to medication.