Schizophrenia - Diagnosis + Classification

Question 1

What is Schizophrenia?

Answer 1

A severe chronic mental illness where contact reality and insight are impaired - usually develops in late adolescence or early adulthood

Question 2

Classification of mental disorders

Answer 2

The process of organizing symptoms into categories depending on which cluster together in a sufferer

Question 3

WHO’s International Classification of Disease (ICD-11)’s Criteria

Answer 3

Must have at least 2 symptoms => can both be negative

Question 4

APA’s Diagnostic + Statistical Manual (DSM-5)

Answer 4

Having just 1 positive symptom is sufficient

Question 5

Positive (+ve) symptoms

Answer 5

atypical symptoms experience in addition to normal => include hallucinations + dellusions

Question 6

Hallucinations (+ve symptom)

Answer 6

Disturbance in perception via sensory experiences
=> often auditory or visual

Question 7

Delusions (+ve symptom)

Answer 7

Irrational beliefs with no basis in reality
=> common ones: being a religious figure (grandeur)

Question 8

Negative symptoms (-ve)

Answer 8

Atypical symptoms that represent a loss of unusual experience
=> speech poverty + avolition

Question 9

Speech poverty (-ve)

Answer 9

Inability to produce fluent words + quality of speech
=> though to reflect blocked thoughts

Question 10

Avolition

Answer 10

Loss of motivation and difficulty completing goal-oriented tasks
=> Andreasen (‘82) - identified 3 signs: poor hygiene, lack of persistence in work/education + lack of energy

Question 11

(S) Reliability of diagnosis of SZ

Answer 11

Diff. clinicians can separately reach the same diagnosis (inter-rater reliability)
Same person can get same diagnosis on diff occasions (test-retest reliability)

Question 12

(L) Lack of reliability - Cheniaux et al (‘09

Answer 12

P: 2 psychiatrists assess 100 clients w/ ICD-10 or DSM-4
F: w/ ICD-10, 68 diagnosed + w/ DSM, 39 were
Conc: criterion validity of SZ is low => over/under diagnosed depending on system used

Question 13

(L) Comorbidity w/ other conditions - Buckley et al (‘09)

Answer 13

Classifications may not be distinct
50% w/ SZ had depression , 47% had substance abuse issues
Suggests - SZ may not exist as a distinct condition

Question 14

(L) Existence of Gender Bias

Answer 14

=> Fisher + Buchanan: men more commonly diagnosed (1.4:1)
- could be genetics or environmental/social factors
=> Cotton et al: women have closer relationships + recieve social support to manage condition

Suggests: gender bias matter as women w/ SZ may not receive treatment that could help them