classification of schizophrenia

Question 1

what is schizophrenia?

Answer 1

schizophrenia is characterized by a profound disruption of cognition and emotion, which affects language, thought, perception and sense of self

Question 2

what are some misconceptions?

Answer 2

• not split personality or multiple personality disorder
• dont always show psychotic behaviour

Question 3

is it the most common psychotic disorder?

Answer 3

yes - affects 1% of the population
at some point in their lifetime

Question 4

what is the prevalence of schizophrenia?

Answer 4

concordance rates between men and women are similar however men are more likely to develop schizophrenia earlier in life than women

the onset is typically in late adolescence and early adulthood

Question 5

schizophrenia prognosis

Answer 5

‘Rule of the thirds’ (rule of thumb):
1/3 recover more or less completely
1/3 episodic impairment
1/3 chronic decline

• With treatment about 60% of patients manage a relatively normal life
• Prognosis better in non-industrialized societies

Question 6

what does positive symptoms mean?

Answer 6

positive symptoms are those that appear to reflect an excess or distortion of normal functions

Question 7

what does negative symptoms mean?

Answer 7

negative symptoms are those that appear to reflect a diminution or loss of normal functions

Question 8

what is classification?

Answer 8

organizing symptoms into categories based on which symptoms cluster together in sufferers

Question 9

what is diagnosis?

Answer 9

deciding whether someone has a mental illness using the classifications