1. Schizophrenia Clinical description Biological explanations Psychological explanations www.psychlotron.org.uk

2. Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is not a multiple personality A psychotic disorder involving a break with reality Many different manifestations with a few shared features www.psychlotron.org.uk

3. Schizophrenia diagnosis At least two of the following: Hallucinations (us. auditory or somatic) Delusions (oft. linked to hallucinations) Disorganised speech Disorganised or catatonic behaviour Negative symptoms Social & occupational dysfunction Duration of several months www.psychlotron.org.uk

4. Schizophrenia diagnosis Diagnostic subtypes Paranoid Catatonic Disorganised Undifferentiated Type 1 - Episodic, mainly positive symptoms Type 2 - Chronic, mainly negative symptoms www.psychlotron.org.uk

5. Schizophrenia prevalence 1% lifetime risk in general population Holds true for most geographical areas although rates do vary Abnormally high in Southern Ireland, Croatia; significantly lower rates in Italy, Spain (Torrey, 2002) Risk factors include low SES, minority ethnicity, urban residence www.psychlotron.org.uk

6. Schizophrenia onset Source: CIHI (2001) www.psychlotron.org.uk

7. Schizophrenia prognosis ‘Rule of the thirds’ (rule of thumb): 1/3 recover more or less completely 1/3 episodic impairment 1/3 chronic decline Confirmed in US & UK (Stevens, 1978) With treatment about 60% of patients manage a relatively normal life Prognosis better in non-industrialised societies www.psychlotron.org.uk

8. Schizophrenia explanations Biological Genetics Neurochemicals & hormones Structural brain abnormalities Psychological Family dynamics Life stress Urbanicity www.psychlotron.org.uk