Schizophrenia Flashcards
Definition A01
Define schizophrenia?
A severe mental disorder where contact with reality and insight are impaired, an e.g of psychosis
A01
Ouline Schizophrenia(SZ)
SZ is a complex mental disorder experienced by 1% of population
commonly diagnosed in men than women, in cities than countrysides,in WC than MC
Symptoms of SZ can interfere severely with everyday tasks thus many end up homeless/ hospitalised
A01
Outline The classification& diagnosis of SZ
The 2 main systems for diagnosing & Classifying SZ:
* DSM5
* ICD-10
These differ in their classification of SZ
In DSM5 system, positive symptoms must be present for diagnosis -delusions, hallucinatons
* 2 or more negative symptoms are sufficent under ICD-10
A01
Define positive symptoms of SZ
Positive symptoms of SZ are additional experiences beyond those of ordinary existence, include hallucinatins & delusions
Outline positive symptoms of SZ-Hallucinations
Hallucinations are unusual sensory experiences,
a person with Sz could see (visual) or hear (auditory) things that aren’t there.
Hallucinations may be experienced via senses e.g, taste, smell, touch
A hallucination is not always straightforward - may take form of distortion of senses, such as seeing a distorted face in the mirror or on another person
A01
Outline Positive symptoms of SZ- Delusions
Delusions are irrational beliefs, ( paranoia)
Delusions take different forms
most prevalent in Sz:
Delusions of grandeur-involve person believing they have higher power, importance or significance, (e.g., the belief they are Jesus or Einstein)
persecutory delusions- involve an all-consuming belief that they are being stalked, under threat or that someone is out to harm them. instil a great sense of fear hence their paranoia
physical delusions - manifest themselves within body & believe their body is under control of someone else, e.g., the belief that their right arm has special powers
Outline Negative symptoms of SZ
Negative symptoms of SZ involve the loss of usual abilities & experiences
* Avolition
* Speech poverty
A01
Negative Symptoms of SZ: Speech poverty
SZ is characterised by changes in patterns of speech , alogia
Can be present in 2 ways:
* Having difficulties speecking spontaneously
* Giving short replies to questions
A01
Negative symptom of SZ: Avolition
Avolition,also known as Apathy
is the complete lack of motivation to engage with goal-oriented behaviour,
person feeling apathetic has reduced motivation to perform simple chores or tasks,
avoltion can be categorised into 3 areas:
poor personal hygiene or grooming,
lack of persistence in work or education,
and lack of energy for recreational activities( things enjoyed)
A03
Outline poor Reliabilityfor diagnosis of SZ
Limitation
Reliabiliy means consistency, important meaure of reliability is inter-rater reliability,
Cheniaux et al (2009) found inter-rater reliability amongst two psychiatrists was low.
One diagnosed 26/100 patients with SZ using the DSM5, 44/100 using the ICD.
The other diagnosed 13/100 DSM and 24/100 using ICD.
This supports that classification & diagnosis of disorder is lacking in reliability & validity.
inter-rater reliability,
in case of diagnosis it means extent to which 2 or more menal health professionals arrive at same diagnosis
A03
Ouline Co-morbidity as a limitation of SZ
Limitation
Co-morbidity is the occurence of two or more conditions occuring together
Buckley et al (2009) found that 50% of SZ patients also had a diagnosis of depression, 29% had a post-traumatic stress diagnosis, and 23% had OCD diagnosis.
This poses challenge, in terms of diagnosis if 1/2 those diagnosed with SZ also diagnosed wth depression then its bad at telling the diff between both conditions
in terms of classificainon it may be that severe depression looks like SZ
Tis confusing picture is a weakness of diagnosis
A03
Outline Symptom overlap as a Limitation of SZ
Limitaion
Symptom overlap occurs when 2 or more conditions share symptoms
There is overlap between symptoms of SZ & other conditions.
E.g both SZ & Bipolar disorder involve positive sympoms like delusions & negative symptoms like avolition
This quesions the validity of both diagnosis & classificaion of SZ
in terms of classification suggests that SZ & bipolar disorder may not be two diff conditions but one & for diagnosis its hard to distingusih from bipolar disorder
A03
Gender & cultural bias in diagnosis of SZ
Limitation
There is gender & cultural bias present in diagnosis of SZ.
* Men more likely to be diagnosed, potentially because women able to cope better with the symptoms,
* & ppl of African origin are also more likely to be diagnosed. Perhaps due to cultural significance of ‘hearing voices’, which may be seen by white Western psychiatrists as unusual or bizarre.
* These factors support the classification of SZ lacks validity & reliability.
