Classification of schizophrenia Flashcards
The World Health Organisation’s ICD-10 (the international classification of disease - version 10)
A system that medical professionals use to classify and diagnose schizophrenia.
Requires two or more negative symptoms
Recognises a range of subtypes of schizophrenia (e.g paranoid, catatonic)
Is used globally.
DSM-V (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual - version 5)
A system that medical professionals use to classify and diagnose schizophrenia.
Requires only one positive symptom
Doesn’t recognise the subtypes of schizophrenia
Used primarily by the American Psychiatric Association.
Positive symptoms of schizophrenia
relate to anything that has been added to normal behaviour that was not previously there. (delusions & hallucinations)
Delusions
are bizarre irrational beliefs that are clearly untrue. E.g delusions of grandeur where they think they are somebody important like Jesus.
paranoid delusions - where they have a false belief that people are persecuting them.
Hallucinations
are when people perceive things that are not actually there. The most common type are auditory hallucinations (hearing voices) although they can also relate to 4 other senses: visual, tactile (touch), olfactory (smell) and gustatory (taste)
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia
These relate to an absence of normal behaviour
Speech poverty
relates to issues with verbal communication. ICD classifies it as a negative symptom as there is a reduction in good quality speech whereas DSM classifies it as a positive symptom as it recognises disorganised speech characterised by loosely connected thoughts.
Avolition
relates to an absence of goal directed behaviour (poor motivation), for example, poor hygiene and grooming, lack of persistence in work or education and lack of energy.
Catatonia
relates to where a patient shows strange bizarre movements (motor stereotypies) or holds the same position for hours on end.
Affective flattening
relates to were the schizophrenic shows an absence of emotion.
