L1 Classification of SZ

Question 1

What is Schizophrenia?

Answer 1

• A serious mental psychotic disorder characterised by a profound disruption of cognition and emotion
• Affect a persons language, thought and perceptions, emotions and even their sense of self
• A psychotic rather than neurotic disorder

Question 2

What is the ICD?

Answer 2

• International Classification of Diseases by World Health Organisations (WHO) in its 11th Edition
• Used in Europe and other parts of the world
• States you need to show one positive and one negative symptom (or two negative) for at least one month

Question 3

What is the DSM?

Answer 3

• Diagnostic Statistical Manual by the American Psychological Association in its 5th Edition
• Used in America
• States you need to show at least two or more positive symptoms (or one pos and one neg) for a period of one month accompanied by extreme social withdrawal for at least six months

Question 4

What did both the manuals have but delete?

Answer 4

They both recognised subtypes of Schizophrenia but deleted these as they made diagnosis more complex

Question 5

What are the 2 types of Schizophrenia?

Answer 5

• Type 1
  Characterised more by positive symptoms, e.g visual or auditory hallucinations, delusions and there is more chance of recovery
• Type 2
  Characterised more by negative symptoms, e.g loss of appropriate emotion, speech poverty and there is less chance of recovery

Question 6

What are Positive Symptoms?

Answer 6

Symptoms that appear to reflect an excess or distortion of normal functions

Question 7

What are Negative Symptoms?

Answer 7

Symptoms of SZ that appear to reflect a reduction or loss of normal functions

Question 8

What are 2 Positive Symptoms?

Answer 8

Hallucinations and Delusions

Question 9

What are Hallucinations?

Answer 9

Sensory experiences of stimuli that have either no basis in reality or are distorted perception of things that are

• Auditory, hearing voices that criticise them
• Visual, seeing things which are not real, e.g distorted facial expressions
• Olfactory, smelling things which are not real
• Tactile, feeling things which are not there, e.g bugs crawling on you

Question 10

What are Delusions?

Answer 10

• AKA paranoia, irrational, bizzare beliefs that seem real to the person with SZ
• E.g some people believe they are important historical / religious figures, e.g Jesus or Napoleon

Question 11

What are 2 Negative Symptoms?

Answer 11

Speech poverty and avolition

Question 12

What is Speech Poverty (Alogia)?

Answer 12

• Characterised by changes in patterns of speech, the emphasis is on the reduction in amount and quality of speech
• A delay in response time, less complex syntax, fewer clauses and shorter utterances

Question 13

What is avolition?

Answer 13

• finding it difficult to begin or keep up with goal-directed activity
• Sufferers will have reduced motivation to carry out a range of activities
• This can include poor hygiene, grooming, lack of persistence with work and a lack of energy