1. Unit 4
Psychopathology
Schizophrenia
Specification –
Clinical characteristics
of schizophrenia

2. Clinical characteristics of schizophrenia
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Schizophrenia is seen as a serious disorder that is
characterised by:
• distorted thinking
• impaired emotional responses
• poor interpersonal skills
• decreased attention and motivation
• distortion of reality

3. Clinical characteristics of schizophrenia
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The term schizophrenia does not represent one disorder but a
group of disorders – there are thought to be 5 main types of
schizophrenia:
• Disorganised
• Catatonic
• Paranoid
• Undifferentiated
• Residual
Make sure you can identify the key characteristics of the
different types of schizophrenia by completing the research
exercise in the extension materials (back of the booklet)

4. Clinical characteristics of schizophrenia
It is the most common and best AO1
known of the psychotic disorders
Symptoms not cause!
ICD-10 DSM-IV 1% in
over
Frequently
18s
revised

5. Clinical characteristics of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder
characterised by severe disruptions in psychological
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functioning and a loss of contact with reality.
It is largely seen as a serious disorder that affects the person’s
thinking processes, emotions, attention, relationships and
motivation.

6. Clinical characteristics of schizophrenia
Development • Usually develops in early adult life AO1
• Men and women equally affected
Gender • Female onset is typically 5-10 years later
Children • Childhood schizophrenia is rare
• Periods of psychotic behaviour interspersed with
Episodic period of more ‘normal’ functioning
• Depression frequently occurs with schizophrenia
Depression • 10-15% of people diagnosed commit suicide

7. Clinical characteristics of schizophrenia
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Chronic onset Acute onset
• Insidious change • Signs appear suddenly
• Young person • Usually as a result of
gradually loses stress
drive/motivation • Very disturbed
• Months/years of behaviour visible in
deterioration days

8. Clinical characteristics of schizophrenia
Positive symptoms - are those which are in
addition to the individual’s behaviour.
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Negative symptoms - involve losses of emotion, interests,
pleasure, etc.
Positive Symptoms Negative Symptoms
1. Hallucinations
2. Delusions (persecution,
grandeur) 1. Affective Flattening
3. Disorganised thinking 2. Alogia (poverty of speech)
(including disorganised 3. Avolition (no goal directed
speech e.g., clangs)
behaviour)
4. Disorganised behaviour
5. Catatonic behaviour

9. Clinical characteristics of schizophrenia
In small groups, complete the case study exercise on page 22
Be prepared to feedback your answers to the class
AMY: Mute, rigid posture, waxy flexibility, uncooperative (negativism?),
extreme agitation
Catatonic Schizophrenia
ELIZABETH: Delusions, hallucinations (auditory), Paranoia, no speech
deficits.
Paranoid Schizophrenia
MICHAEL: Bizarre behaviours, hallucinations (random), Social Isolation,
language distortion, Emotional disturbance.
Hebephrenic (Disorganised) Schizophrenia

10. Clinical characteristics –
language difficulties
An example of an incoherent word salad
I am writing on paper. The pen which I am using is from a factory called
“Perry and Co”. This factory is in England. I assume this. Behind the name
Perry and Co, the city of London is inscribed, but not the city. The city of
London is in England. I know this from my school days. Then I always like
Geography; which hand has got a frog in it? My last teacher was Professor
August A. He was a man with black eyes. I also like black eyes. There are
also blue and grey eyes and other sorts, too. I have heard it said that
snakes have green eyes. All people have eyes. There are some, too, who
are blind. These blind people are led by a boy…………
It is close to February, I feel claustrophobia. I am the nun. If that’s not
enough, you are still his. That is a brave cavalier, take him as your husband
Karoline, you well know, though you are my Lord, you were just a dream. If
you are the dove-cote, Mrs. K. is still beset by fear. Otherwise I am not so
exact in eating. Handle the gravy carefully. Where is the paintbrush? Where
are you Herman? The King of Spain feels no pain in the drain of the crane.
I’m lame, you’re tame: with fame, I’ll be the same you glump wooger.
Identify any: Clangs ~ Neologisms ~

11. Clinical characteristics of schizophrenia
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Individual Written Activity
Outline the clinical characteristics of
schizophrenia (8 marks)