This document covers the Schizophrenia topic in A level Psychology: diagnosis and classification, biological explanations, biological treatment, family dysfunction, cognitive explanation, psychological treatments, management of schizophrenia, and the interactionist approach. :)
● 📖Classification - the systems used to list symptoms - symptoms grouped according
to mental disorders, sz should have a distinct set of symptoms from other disorders
● 📄Diagnosis - giving someone a label ‘schizoprenia’ - generally need 2+ symptoms
for 1 month/more
Important bc of issues with stigmas and getting the right treatment
ICD - the classification system of mental disorders that contains symptoms of each disorder,
produced by the World Health Organisation
● Signs of disturbance should be apparent for at least 1 month
● Focus on negative symptoms - 2 or more of these are sufficient - more emphasis on
first-rank symptoms
DSM 5 - the classification system of mental disorders that contains symptoms of each
disorder, produced by the American Psychiatric Association
● Signs of disturbance should be apparent for at least 6 months
● Focus on positive symptoms - these must be present in diagnosis - more emphasis
on social/occupational dysfunction
Clinical characteristics
● Has been described as a disintegration of the personality
● People w schizophrenia not aware that there is something wrong, makes it difficult to
treat
● A main feature is split thinking and emotion
● Involves a range of psychotic symptoms (where there is a break from reality)
● Generally people w schizophrenia lack insight into their condition, i.e. they do not
realise they are ill
(Extra facts)
● Prevalence of sz in the population is 1%
● Can experience catatonia - staying in position for hours/days on end, cut off from the
world
● Can have psychomotor disturbances - stereotypical ones are rocking back and forth,
twitches, repetitive behaviours
● Thought disorder in which there are breaks in the train of thought and the person
appears to make illogical jumps from one topic to another (loose association), words
may become confused and sentences incoherent (so called ‘word salad’)
● Broadcasting - a thought disorder whereby someone believes their thoughts are
being broadcast to others, eg over radio, through TV
● Often more men diagnosed than women
● Depending on how severe it is, 50% can go on to lead normal lives
● More common in lower socioeconomic groups
● More likely to have drug and alcohol abuse
Positive symptoms +
● + Add to normal life
● Concern losing touch with reality
● Include hallucinations, delusions, catatonic or disorganised behaviour, disorganised
speech (‘word salad’)
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