Lesson 1: Introduction and the classification of schizophrenia

Question 1

Define Schizophrenia

Answer 1

Severe mental disorder characterised by disruption of cognitive 🧠 and emotional 😭 functioning- effects language, thoughts 💭, perceptions, emotions 😭, sense of self- person hears 👂 voices and sees 👀 visions

Question 2

What are the causes of Schizophrenia?

Answer 2

1) Genetics 🧬
2) Neural explanations- 🧠 structure
3) Drugs 💊 e.g. marijuana, ecstasy
4) Stress- traumatic experience
5) Previous health 🏥 issues- e.g. 🧠 injury
6) Depression
7) Environment- learning (behavioural 🏃‍♂‍ approach)
8) Issues when person was born- lack of oxygen (when potentially umbilical cord wrapped around 👶’s neck)
9) Bacteria infection- passed on from mother 🤰 to 👶

Question 3

What are the 2 ways in which a person could get schizophrenia?

Answer 3

1) Type I: Acute onset: Obvious ➕ symptoms appear suddenly usually after stressful events (e.g. days/weeks or months)
2) Type II: Chronic onset: illness takes many years to form and gradual changes of ⬆️ disturbance and withdrawal occur- characterised by ➖ symptoms

Question 4

What is Schizophrenia classified in?

Answer 4

1) International Classification of Diseases 10th edition (ICD-10)
2) The Diagnostic Statistical Manual fifth edition (DSM-V)

Question 5

Give details about the ICD-10

Answer 5

• Produced by World Health Organisation (WHO)
• Updated every few years
• Focuses on clusters of symptoms needed to classify psychiatric illness
• Mainly used in Europe
• For schizophrenia, ICD-10 focuses on subtypes of schizophrenia whereas DSM-V ✖️ do this anymore

Question 6

Give details about the DSM-V

Answer 6

• Classification and description of 200 mental disorders which are grouped together in terms of features
• Produced in 🇺🇸
• Updated every few years
• DSM-IV used to have subtypes of schizophrenia BUT subtypes removed in DSM-V

Question 7

How many criteria must you fill to be diagnosed with Schizophrenia according to the DSM-V

Answer 7

3

Question 8

What are the criteria that you must fulfill to be diagnosed with Schizophrenia by the DSM-V?

Answer 8

Criterion 1:
Need 2 or ⬆️ of following criteria OR only 1 if delusion bizarre or hallucinations consist of a running commentary of the person’s 🏃‍♂️ or 💭
1) Delusions
2) Hallucinations
3) Disorganised speech 👄
4) Grossly disorganised 🏃‍♂️
5) ➖ symptoms such as flattening/avolition

Criterion 2: Social/occupational dysfunction:
- since onset of schizophrenia- 1 or ⬆️ areas of functioning negatively ➖ affected e.g. work/interpersonal/self-care

Criterion 3: Duration:

• Continuous signs of disturbance- present for 6 months or ⬆️
• Symptoms from criterion 1 MUST be present for 1 month