Classification of schizophrenia

Question 1

What is schizophrenia?

Answer 1

A type of psychosis characterised by a profound disruption of cognition and emotion

Question 2

How does DSM-5 diagnose schizophrenia?

Answer 2

One positive symptom of schizophrenia must be present

Question 3

What tool is more common in Europe to diagnose schizophrenia?

Answer 3

ICD-11

Question 4

Define what positive symptoms of schizophrenia are?

Answer 4

Appear to reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning

Question 5

Give 2 examples of positive symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 5

1) Hallucinations - bizarre, unreal
perceptions of the environment that are usually auditory (hearing things that people can’t hear) or visual (seeing things other people can’t see).

2) Delusions - bizarre beliefs that seem real to the person with schizophrenia, but they are not real. Sometimes these delusions can be paranoid in nature. For example the belief that they are being followed or their phone is tapped or have hidden cameras in their home.

Question 6

Define what negative symptoms of schizophrenia are?

Answer 6

Appear to reflect a reduction or loss of normal functioning

Question 7

Give 2 examples of negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 7

1) Speech poverty - The lessening of speech fluency and productivity, which reflects slowing or blocked thoughts.

May produce fewer words in a given time and also may be reflected in less complex syntax, e.g. fewer clauses, shorter utterances etc.

2) Avolition - a reduction of interests and desires as well as an inability to initiate and persist in goal-directed behaviour.