schizophrenia characteristics

• Schizophrenia (sch)


  A psychotic disorder which causes a variety of psychological symptoms
• Positive symptoms


  Symptoms the individual exhibits in addition to 'normal' behaviours (if they didn't have sch, they wouldn't have these symptoms)
• Positive symptoms


  • Hallucinations
  • Delusions
  • Disordered Thinking
• Hallucinations


  Perceptions which are not real such as auditory hallucinations where the individual hears voices or sounds, or visual hallucinations where the individual sees an unreal image
• Research found that 20% of all schizophrenics experience formication, where they feel a sensation of insects crawling on their skin
• Delusions


  Beliefs which are not real. Usually have no evidence to support their belief. Many different types of delusions including delusions of grandiosity, where the individual believes they are special in some way, having superior power or knowledge (eg being chosen by God). Also includes delusions of persecution, an unreal belief that they are going to be harmed by an individual, group or organisation (such as the MI5 following them)
• Disordered Thinking


  Often evident when examining the speech of an individual with sch. For example, their thoughts are jumping from one to the next which is clear in their conversations, having no flow of discussion. Can be frustrating for the person trying to talk to them
• Negative symptoms


  Symptoms/behaviours that inhibits the individual from demonstrating 'normal' behaviour. For example, being unable to hold a conversation 'takes away' the individual's behaviour to communicate properly
• Negative symptoms


  • Alogia
  • Avolition
• Alogia


  Poverty of speech. An individual may lack meaning in their sentences, even simple questions. This usually causes the individual to reduce their amount of talking
• Avolition


  A lack of inspiration/desire to do activities they would normally enjoy. Lack of goal-directed behaviour which could be perceived as disinterest
• Kurt Schneider categorised these symptoms into positive or negative symptoms