Classification of schizophrenia

• Outline what is meant by schizophrenia.

  Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that involves an impaired sense of reality.

  It affects 1% of the population.

  Symptoms typically begin in early adulthood, with men typically being diagnosed at an earlier age than women.

  These symptoms can be positive ones (e.g. hallucinations and delusions) or negative ones (e.g. speech poverty and avolition).
• Distinguish between positive and negative symptoms.


  Positive symptoms refer to the additional experiences beyond reality. Examples include hallucinations and delusions.

  Negative symptoms refer to the loss of usual abilities and experiences. Examples include speech poverty and avolition).
• Explain what is meant by hallucinations.


  Hallucinations refer to unusual sensory experiences.

  There can be different types e.g. visual hallucinations and auditory hallucinations.

  Visual hallucination refer to when an individual may see things that do not exist.

  Auditory hallucinations refer to when an individual may hear things that are not there, typically critical voices.
• Explain what is meant by delusions.


  Delusions refer irrational beliefs that go against reality.

  There are different types e.g. paranoid delusions and delusions of control.

  Paranoid delusions refer to when an individual believes that people are out to get them e.g. the FBI.

  Delusions of control refer to when an individual believes that somebody else is controlling their thoughts and behaviour.
• Explain what is meant by speech poverty.


  Speech poverty refers to when an individual produces limited speech that is often repetitive.

  This is often in addition to them producing a delayed verbal response during a conversation.
• Explain what is meant by avolition.


  Avolition refers to when an individual finds it difficult/lacks the motivation to keep up with purposeful activities such as going to work.

  Signs of avolition can therefore include poor hygiene, poor attendance to work/education and a lack of energy.
• Explain what is meant by the classification of schizophrenia and its purpose.


  The classification of schizophrenia refers to how it is categorised as its own unique disorder and how it is distinguished from other mental disorders.

  This is achieved by identifying the unique set of symptoms and characteristics that people with schizophrenia typically display.

  By being able to classify schizophrenia, it enables it to be diagnosed so that the patient can receive appropriate treatment.
• Explain how schizophrenia is classified.


  Schizophrenia is classified as a psychotic disorder in both the DSM-5 (a diagnostic manual used in America) and the ICD-10 (a diagnostic manual used in the most of the world).

  Both of these classification systems differ slightly in how they describe schizophrenia.

  E.g. the DSM-5 requires at least two symptoms to be present for over a month and one of these must be a positive symptom.

  Meanwhile, the ICD-10 requires at least one positive symptom or 2 symptoms (both of which can be negative) for over a month.