Clinical Characteristics of Schizophrenia

Question 1

Clinical characteristics

Answer 1

“A serious mental health disorder characterised by severe disruptions in psychological functioning and a loss of contact with reality”

1% of pop diagnosed, 1/100 chance of developing it - once diagnosed you have it forever
Generally develops
- late teens - 20s in males
- late 20s to 30s in female

Acute onset - couple of days, often following trauma
Chronic onset - slow, months and years to fully develop

Question 2

Classification

Answer 2

Schneider - positive symptoms, first rank, type one

Add to personality

• thought control inc withdrawal, broadcast and insertion
• delusions of control, influence and passivity - distorted beliefs, not in control of self or will
• hallucinatory voices - often takes dirk of running commentary but not consistent
• persistent delusions - belief they are a great leader etc

Kraeplin - negative symptoms, second rank, type two

Take away from personality

• persistent hallucinations - distortions from any of the senses
• incoherent speech - neologism, word salad, monotony, rambling etc
• catatonic beh - uncontrolled limb movement, frozen mobility
• negative symptoms - apathy, inappropriate responses, withdrawal

Question 3

Subtypes

Answer 3

Paranoid 
Hebephrenic
Catatonic
Undifferentiated 
Residual schizophrenia 
Post schizophrenic depression
Simple schizophrenia 

Last two are included in the ICD but NOT the DSM

Question 4

Diagnostic tools

Answer 4

ICD -
International Classification of Disorders
1x positive or 2x negative for a month to be diagnosed
Used by World Health Organisation

DSM -
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
1x positive or 2x negative for 6 months to be diagnosed