Intro to Schizophrenia

• Prevalence

  men > females

  working class > middle class

  city > countryside

  onset in adolescents

  working in dry cleaners
• DSM-5 schizophrenia diagnosis requires one positive symptom.

  ICD-10 schizophrenia diagnoses requires two negative symptoms.
• Positive Symptoms - adding something to daily life

  Negative Symptoms - taking something away from daily life
• Positive : Hallucinations

  * unusual sensory experiences that have no basis in reality or the perception of reality is distorted.
• Positive : Delusions

  * beliefs that have no basis in reality; people behave in ways usual to them but unusual to the rest of society. A type is grandious delusions-thinking they’re a VIP.
• Positive : Disorganised Speech

  * loose associations in speech; rapidly shifting between topics that have no relation between them.

  * preservations; repeating things over and over again or made up words (neologisms).
• Negative : Alogia

  * reduction in the amount and quality of speech, delay in verbal responses during conversations.
• Negative : Avolition

  * severe loss of motivation to carry out everyday tasks, lowered activity levels and unwillingness to carry out goal-oriented behaviour.
• Negative : Diminished emotional responses

  * emotional expressions don’t show outwardly, speech is flat, dull and the face may not change.

  * trouble understanding emotions in others.