Schizophrenia Flashcards
Define schizophrenia
A severe mental disorder where contact with reality and insight is impared
Define classification of a mental disorder
The process of organising symptoms into categories based on which symptoms frequently cluster together
Name the two systems for the classification of mental disorder
- The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)
- The World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Disease (ICD)
What are the differences between the ICD and DSM in the diagnosis for schizophrenia?
In the DSM, one of the listed positive symptoms must be present for the diagnosis of schizophrenia, whereas in the ICD, two or more negative symptoms are sufficient
Previous editions of the DSM and ICD recognised subtypes of schizophrenia, but both has since dropped the subtypes because they tended to be inconsistent
Define positive symptoms of schizophrenia
Atypical symptoms experienced in addition to normal experiences
What are the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Speech disorganisation
Define hallucinations
Unusual sensory experiences that have either no basis in reality or are distored perceptions of things that are there
They can be experienced in relation to any sense (vision, hearing, touch, smell and taste)
Define delusions
Irrational beliefs that have no basis in reality
Define speech disorganisation
Incoherent speech or when the speaker changes topic mid-sentence
Define negative symptoms
Atypical symptoms that involve the loss of usual abilities or experiences
What are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
- Speech poverty
- Avolition/apathy
Define speech poverty
Changes in speech patterns, usually a reduced frequency and quality of speech, sometimes accompanied by a delay in the person’s verbal responses during a conversation
Define avolition/apathy
Loss of motivation to carry out tasks, resulting in lowered activity levels
Andreasen (1982) three signs of avolition
- Poor hygiene and grooming
- Lack of persistence in work or education
- Lack of energy
