Abnormal Psychology- Schizophrenia
Abnormal Psychology - Schizophrenia
Introduction
There are a number of problems with defining psychological abnormality. They include problems with cultural relativity and social norms, what is normal within one culture or society may be considered abnormal within another. There are also problems with statistics as some abnormalities have too few or too many statistics to compare and the statistics may not always be reliable.
Under the medical model all psychological disorders are considered illnesses. There are two classification systems to diagnose different disorders. These are the International Classification of Diseases & Health Related Problems (ICD) and Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The most up to date editions currently in use are ICD-10 and DSM-IV although DSM-V is due to be released in May 2013. (Jabr, F (2013))
Schizophrenia
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) schizophrenia is a severe form of mental illness. It is a treatable psychological condition that affects 24 million people worldwide. It mainly affects 15-35 year olds and is more likely to occur in males but anyone of any age or gender, can develop the condition. It affects thinking, perceptions and language and causes the patient to hear voices and to have hallucinations and delusions.
Symptoms
ICD-10 diagnostic criteria • At least one of: o Thought echo, thought insertion/withdrawal/broadcast o Passivity, delusional perception o Third person auditory hallucination, running commentary o Persistent bizarre delusions • or two or more of: o Persistent hallucinations o Thought disorder o Catatonic behaviour o Negative symptoms o Significant behaviour change • Duration o More than 1 month • Exclusion criteria o Mood disorders, schizoaffective disorder o Overt brain disease o Drug intoxication or withdrawal (Wing, J.K. & Agrawal,
Introduction
There are a number of problems with defining psychological abnormality. They include problems with cultural relativity and social norms, what is normal within one culture or society may be considered abnormal within another. There are also problems with statistics as some abnormalities have too few or too many statistics to compare and the statistics may not always be reliable.
Under the medical model all psychological disorders are considered illnesses. There are two classification systems to diagnose different disorders. These are the International Classification of Diseases & Health Related Problems (ICD) and Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The most up to date editions currently in use are ICD-10 and DSM-IV although DSM-V is due to be released in May 2013. (Jabr, F (2013))
Schizophrenia
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) schizophrenia is a severe form of mental illness. It is a treatable psychological condition that affects 24 million people worldwide. It mainly affects 15-35 year olds and is more likely to occur in males but anyone of any age or gender, can develop the condition. It affects thinking, perceptions and language and causes the patient to hear voices and to have hallucinations and delusions.
Symptoms
ICD-10 diagnostic criteria • At least one of: o Thought echo, thought insertion/withdrawal/broadcast o Passivity, delusional perception o Third person auditory hallucination, running commentary o Persistent bizarre delusions • or two or more of: o Persistent hallucinations o Thought disorder o Catatonic behaviour o Negative symptoms o Significant behaviour change • Duration o More than 1 month • Exclusion criteria o Mood disorders, schizoaffective disorder o Overt brain disease o Drug intoxication or withdrawal (Wing, J.K. & Agrawal,
References: o Sammons (2008) Schizophrenia [online] available from: http://www.psychlotron.org.uk/resources/abnormal/A2_AQB_abnormal_schizophreniaPsyBehActivity.pdf [accessed 5.2.2013] o Wing, J.K & Agrawal, N o WHO (2012) Mental Health – Schizophrenia [online] available from: www.who.int/mental_health/management/schizophrenia/en/ [accessed 5.2.2013] http://alevelpsychologynotes.blogspot.co.uk/2007/10/schizophrenia.html by TAZMANIAN_DEVIL a 2007