Classification of Schizophrenia

• What are the two types of symptoms necessary for a schizophrenia diagnosis?

  Positive and negative symptoms
• Why is diagnosing schizophrenia not foolproof?

  Due to issues with validity and reliability
• What percentage of the British population is affected by schizophrenia?

  Around one percent
• At what age do the first symptoms of schizophrenia usually appear?

  Between 15 and 45
• Which gender is more likely to develop schizophrenia?

  Men
• How can schizophrenia be defined?

  As a break from reality
• What are the two positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

  Hallucinations and delusions
• What do positive symptoms of schizophrenia represent?

  Experiences that are in addition to normal experience
• What do negative symptoms of schizophrenia represent?

  A lack of normal experiences or abilities
• What is the role of a clinician in identifying schizophrenia symptoms?

  To use a guide like the DSM-5 or ICD to diagnose a
• How many symptoms must be present for a schizophrenia diagnosis?

  Two symptoms for at least a month, with one being positive
• What are visual hallucinations?

  Seeing distorted objects or things that are not there
• What are auditory hallucinations most commonly experienced as?

  Hearing critical and abusive voices
• What are delusions in the context of schizophrenia?

  Irrational beliefs about oneself or the world
• What is an example of a delusion of persecution?

  Feeling like the government is spying on
• What is an example of a delusion of grandeur?

  Thinking they are royalty
• What is avolition in the context of negative symptoms?


  A loss of normal motivation and energy
• What is speech poverty?

  A loss of depth in communication
• What is inter-rater reliability?

  When two medical professionals reach the same diagnosis
• What is test-retest reliability?

  When the same doctor gives the same diagnosis over time
• What was the concordance rate found in the 1963 review of schizophrenia diagnoses?

  54% concordance rate
• What does a low inter-rater reliability suggest about schizophrenia diagnosis?

  Many people might be misdiagnosed
• What is comorbidity in the context of schizophrenia?

  Schizophrenia diagnosed alongside other mental health conditions - there is a tendency for schizophrenia to co-exist alongside with other
• What percentage of the time is schizophrenia assessed alongside depression according to Buckley (2009)?

  50% of the time
• What is a significant issue related to symptom overlap in schizophrenia?

  It questions if bipolar and schizophrenia are distinct conditions
• How do gender differences manifest in schizophrenia diagnosis?

  Men develop symptoms earlier and have worse social functioning
• Why might women's experiences of schizophrenia be taken less seriously?

  Due to better social ability and coping strategies
• What does cultural bias in schizophrenia diagnosis refer to?

  Over-diagnosis of Afro-Caribbean individuals due to cultural differences
• What is category failure in the context of schizophrenia diagnosis?

  Applying Western definitions of mental illness to non-Western cultures
• How might Afro-Caribbean cultural experiences be misinterpreted in diagnosis?

  Hearing voices of spirits may be seen as hallucinations
• What did Lauren and Powell's research find regarding diagnostic bias?

  Diagnosis influenced by the sex and race of both client and psychiatrist
• What was the most accurate diagnosis scenario in Lauren and Powell's study?

  When the client's race and sex matched the psychiatrist's
• What are the key symptoms of schizophrenia?

  • Positive symptoms: hallucinations and delusions
  • Negative symptoms: avolition and speech poverty
• What are the issues with the reliability and validity of schizophrenia diagnosis?

  • Reliability issues: inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability
  • Validity issues: comorbidity, symptom overlap, gender bias, and cultural bias
• What are the differences in symptom development between men and women with schizophrenia?

  • Men: develop symptoms earlier, worse social functioning, more negative symptoms
  • Women: diagnosed later, more positive symptoms
• What cultural factors influence the diagnosis of schizophrenia in Afro-Caribbean individuals?

  • Misdiagnosis due to cultural differences
  • Religious experiences interpreted differently
• What is the significance of Lauren and Powell's research on diagnostic bias?

  • Diagnosis influenced by the sex and race of both client and psychiatrist
  • Most accurate diagnosis occurs when client and psychiatrist share race and sex
• What disorders is schizophrenia often diagnosed alongside?

  Depression, Bipolar,
• Malgady's Research


  The study found that in traditional Costa Rican culture, hearing voices is not considered a symptom of mental illness, but rather a sign of spiritual guidance. This contrasts with Western cultures, such as the USA, where hearing voices is a core symptom of schizophrenia.
• Copeland's Research


  Found that US psychiatrists diagnosed patients with schizophrenia 69% of the time compared to 2% in British psychiatrists. This suggests that the background and cultural biases of the clinician can impact dianosis, potentially leading to patients getting the wrong treatment or no treatment.