Clinical Characteristics of Schizophrenia

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CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

Kurt Schneider (1959) divided the symptoms of schizophrenia into two categories: Positive behaviours (additional abnormal behaviours) & Negative behaviours (lack of normal behaviours)

Hallucinations –

Auditory Hallucinations – hearing voices saying things when no one is really there

Visual Hallucinations – seeing things/people that are not present or real

Tactile Hallucinations – feel people touching them

Delusions –

Thought Broadcasting – the idea that an external force is broadcasting the individuals thoughts

Thought Insertion – an external force makes the individual think something is distasteful/unwelcome

Delusions of Control – not being in control of their actions

Delusions of belief – the individual believes they are someone powerful/important i.e. The Queen

Persecutory Delusions – the individual believes people are out to harm them.

Incoherent Speech:

Speech is rambling or sparking off in different directions. This leads to the person becoming more isolated.

Catatonic Behaviour:

The individual makes characteristic movements that are repetitive or purposeless. Sometimes an individual may stand in one place for hours.

Negative Symptoms:

FLATNESS OF EFFECT – Lack of emotion when speaking or in response, showing wrong emotions.

POVERTY OF SPEECH – Answering with a meaningless phrase

ANHEDONIA – Not being able to react to pleasure or enjoy experiences

Incoherent Speech:

Speech is rambling or sparking off in different directions. This leads to the person becoming more isolated.

Catatonic Behaviour:

The individual makes characteristic movements that are repetitive or purposeless. Sometimes an individual may stand in one place for hours.

Negative Symptoms:

FLATNESS OF EFFECT – Lack of emotion when speaking or in response, showing wrong emotions.

POVERTY OF SPEECH (Alogia)v– Answering with a meaningless phrase

ANHEDONIA – Not being able to react to pleasure or enjoy experiences

Avolition - inbility to initiate and persist goal directed behaviour

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