Summary A Level Psychology Schizophrenia: ‘classification' (AQA)

Classification of schiz:
- ICD-10 = 2 or more negative for diagnosis.
- DSM-5 = one positive symptom has to be present for diagnosis.
Problem with different systems? - different systems lead to differences in
diagnosis lead to unreliable or invalid diagnosis lead to inappropriate treatment
given.
Positive symptoms of schiz: (gain)
- Hallucinations = experience that has no basis in reality e.g. auditory and
visual
- Delusions = irrational beliefs e.g. delusions of grandeur or delusions of
persecution
Negative symptoms of schiz: (lose)
- Speech poverty = reduction in quality of speech. Speech disorganisation
= speech becomes incoherent
- Avolition (apathy) = finding it difficult to begin or keep up w/ goal-
directed activity
Issues in diagnosis and classification:
Co-morbidity = when a person has 2 or more disorders at the same time
Another diagnosis limitation is its co-morbidity w/ other conditions. If
conditions occur together this questions the validity of the diagnosis and
classification because they might actually be a single condition. Schizophrenia
is commonly diagnoses w/ other conditions. One review found half those
diagnosed with it also had a diagnosis of depression. This is a problem for