Charecteristic

• SZ is classified as a psychotic disorder, it can potentially involved a wide range of different symptoms but is largely characterized by the sufferer loosing touch with reality. It affects approximately 1% of the population.
• Positive symptoms- any change in behavior or thoughts, these appear to reflect an excess distortion of normal function.
• + Hallucinations

  Sensory perceptions that are not real.

  Can be auditory, visual, tactile or olfactory
• +Delusions

  A belief that is not real but is held with complete conviction, even though it is based on a mistaken, strange or unrealistic view. Some develop a delusional view to explain the hallucination they are experiencing.

  Delusions may be about presecution or grandiosity.
• + and - Catatonic Behavior

  Concerns with movement, issues can range from fast repetitive movements or little or no movement at all.
• Negative symptoms- these appear to reflect a withdrawal or lack of function that you would not usually expect to see in a healthy person.
• -Alogia

  poverty of speech- characterized by a decrease in speech fluency.
• -Avolition

  Reduction of, or inability to persist un/initiate goal directed behavior, show neither the will or desire to take part.
• Disorganized Symptoms- these can be characterized by disorganised thoughts and disorganised speech
• Diagnostic Criteria:

  • Normal requirement for a diagnosis of SZ is that a minimum of one very clear symptom belonging to any of the 'groups' in list 1.
  • Or symptoms from at least two of the 'groups' in list 2.
  • Symptoms should have been clearly present for most of the time during a period of 1 month or more.