issues in diagnosis + classification

• What is the classification of mental disorder?

  Organising symptoms into categories based on which symptoms frequently cluster together
• What are positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

  • Additional experiences beyond those of ordinary existence
  • They are sensory experiences that are not real, or that are distorted perceptions of things that are real
• What are hallucinations in schizophrenia?

  A positive symptom where have sensory experiences have no basis in reality or are distorted perceptions
• What are delusions in schizophrenia?

  Beliefs with no basis in reality
• What is speech poverty in schizophrenia?

  Reduced frequency and quality of speech
• What is avolition in schizophrenia?

  A negative symptom of schizophrenia. It involves loss of motivation to carry out tasks and results in lowered activity levels
• What are negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

  The loss of usual abilities and experiences
• How do we distinguish one disorder from another?

  Done by identifying clusters of symptoms that occur together and classifying this as one disorder
• 2 major systems for the classification of mental disorder:

  1. American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, also known as DSM-5
  2. World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Disease, also known as ICD-10
• For DSM-5, only 1 positive symptoms must be present for diagnosis
• With ICD-10, 2 or more negative systems must be present for diagnosis
• Types of Schizophrenia:

  • Type 1 – More positive symptoms, but responds better to treatment
  • Type 2 – Chronic and has more negative symptoms, less responsive to treatment