symptoms and diagnosis

Question 1

what is schizophrenia

Answer 1

• serious mental illness suffered by 1% of population
• more commonly diagnosed in men, cities, working class
• symptoms can interfere severely with everyday tasks, many end up homeless and hospitalised

Question 2

what are the two classification systems for schizophrenia

Answer 2

1) ICD-10
2) DSM-S
- both from America

Question 3

positive symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 3

( things that are added )
Hallucinations - unusual sensory experiences. voices heard either talking or commenting on the situation

Delusions- Also known as paranoia, irrational beliefs, common delusions involve being an important

Question 4

negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 4

Avoilation- finding it difficult to keep up with an activity- reduced motivation
Speech poverty- reduction and delays in quality of speaking

Question 5

issues with classification of schizophrenia

Answer 5

1) there is significant overlap between symptoms of SZ and symptoms of other conditions. Bipolar has delusions and avoilation

2) there is cultural bias African Americans and afro Caribbean’s several times more likely to be diagnosed with sz. Shows genetics must play a factor.

3) number of reliability issues. A researcher had two psychiatrists indecently diagnose 100 patients using both DSM and ICD. Inter-reliability was poor with one psychiatrist diagnosing 26 with schizophrenia according to DSM and 44 according to ICD.