Diagnosis of Schzophrenia

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There are TWO MANUALS used to diagnose schizophrenia:

The first is: ICD which is used in Europe & internationally. It explains that schizophrenic people are those who show 1 serious symptom or 2 less serious symptoms for a month or more

The second is: DSM – IV which is used in America – it adds other types of behaviours to the ICD manual.

The DSM – IV also lists 5 subtypes of schizophrenia, due to the huge variety of symptoms shown:

DISORGANISED SCHIZOPHRENIA: Symptoms involve incoherent speech and thoughts, bizarre delusions and hallucinations & inappropriate emotions and behaviours.

CATATONIC SCHIZOPHRENIA – Symptoms alternate between catatonic stupor and negativism & catatonic excitement – prolonged frenzied, even violent behaviour

PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA – Involves organised and complex delusions, mostly auditory hallucination & relatively few other symptoms

RESIDUAL SCHIZOPHRENIA – Involves the gradual development of many minor problems e.g. Social withdrawal, emotional blunting & apathy

UNDIFFERENTIATED SCHIZOPHRENIA – Classification for those whose symptoms are not classifiable under any of the other subtypes

The DSM – IV also lists 5 subtypes of schizophrenia, due to the huge variety of symptoms shown:

DISORGANISED SCHIZOPHRENIA: Symptoms involve incoherent speech and thoughts, bizarre delusions and hallucinations & inappropriate emotions and behaviours.

CATATONIC SCHIZOPHRENIA – Symptoms alternate between catatonic stupor and negativism & catatonic excitement – prolonged frenzied, even violent behaviour

PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA – Involves organised and complex delusions, mostly auditory hallucination & relatively few other symptoms

RESIDUAL SCHIZOPHRENIA – Involves the gradual development of many minor problems e.g. Social withdrawal, emotional blunting & apathy

UNDIFFERENTIATED SCHIZOPHRENIA – Classification for those whose symptoms are not classifiable under any of the other subtypes

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