Classification of Schizophrenia

Question 1

Schizophrenia

Answer 1

• People of all cultures and levels of society develop schizophrenia
• 1 % of people suffer worldwide - varies worldwide by 0.33 to 15%
• World’s most common mental disorder - 50%
• Difficult to compile accurate stats = inadequate agreed criteria for diagnosis - 22 -55 million

Question 2

What does it do?

Answer 2

• Affects thought processes
• Ability to determine reality
• Degree of severity varies; 1 episode only, persistent episodes w/ meds + persistent episodes w/out meds.

Question 3

Types of schizophrenia

Answer 3

• Type 1 schizophrenia - positive symptoms

- Type 2 schizophrenia - negative symptoms

Question 4

Positive symptoms

Answer 4

• Behaviours concerning loss of touch with reality; hallucinations and delusions
• Acute/ short periods
• Better prospects of recovery - respond well to meds

Question 5

Negative symptoms

Answer 5

• Behaviours concerning disruption of normal emotions and actions
• Chronic, longer-lasting episodes - resistant to medication
• Contribute most to sufferers not being able to function effectively in society

Question 6

Diagnosis

Answer 6

• 2 or more symptoms must be apparent for more than one month
• • reduced social functioning
• Occurs between 15 and 45 - equal incidence rate between males and females
• Males onset earlier

Question 7

Chronic onset schizophrenia

Answer 7

• Increasingly disturbed through gradual withdrawal

- Motivational loss over prolonged period

Question 8

Acute onset schizophrenia

Answer 8

• Symptoms appear suddenly = after stressful incident

Question 9

Schneider (1959)

Answer 9

• Detailed first-rank symptoms of schizophrenia
• Subjectively based on patients’ verbal reports
• Most are positive

; - Passivity experiences and thought disorders

• Auditory hallucinations
• Primary delusions

Question 10

Passivity experiences and thought disorders

Answer 10

• Thoughts and actions - perceived as under external control = aliens
• Thoughts being inserted, withdrawn or broadcast to others

Question 11

Auditory hallucinations

Answer 11

• Experience voice = insulting + obscene

- Occur with simultaneous delusions

Question 12

Primary delusions

Answer 12

• Experience delusions of grandeur = believing they are someone important
• Later = delusions of persecution - suffers believe someone wants to hurt them

Some sufferers experience only one type of these delusions

Question 13

Slater and Roth (1969)

Answer 13

• Added 4 symptoms, observed directly from behaviour
• Most are negative
  ;
• Thought process disorders
• Disturbances of effect
• Psychomotor disturbances
• Avolition

Question 14

Thought process disorders

Answer 14

• Wander off the point
• Invent new words and phrases
• Stop mid-sentence
• Muddle their words
• Interpret language literally
• Indulge in speech poverty

= excessively brief replies to questions with minimal elaboration

Question 15

Disturbances of effect

Answer 15

• Sufferers appear uncaring of others

- Display inappropriate emotional responses

Question 16

Psychomotor disturbances

Answer 16

• Adopt frozen ‘statue-like’ poses
• Exhibit tics and twitches
• Repetitive behaviours

Question 17

Avolition

Answer 17

• Inability to make decisions
• No enthusiasm or energy
• Lose interest in personal hygiene
• Lack sociability and affection