Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia Types
According to DSM-IV, there
are 5 types of schizophrenia based on the specific
symptoms exhibited by the person. It is not excluded that
a person can be diagnosed with more than one type of
schizophrenia during their life.
1. Paranoid Type
Paranoid schizophrenia is one of the most common forms of schizophrenia
and is characterized by prominent persecutory or grandiose delusions and
auditory hallucinations "related to the content of the delusional
theme." In some patients, delusions organized around other themes
such as jealousy, religiosity, or somatization (sexual or other body sensations)
can also occur. This type of schizophrenia does not include disorganized
speech and behavior, but patients affected by it exhibit anxiety, anger,
aloofness, and argumentativeness. Individuals with paranoid schizophrenia
may display a superior and patronizing attitude, and due to the persecutory
and grandiose nature of their delusions and hallucination, they are predisposed
to suicide and violent behavior. The onset age for this form of schizophrenia
is later in life than other types and it tends to have a better prognosis
"particularly with regard to occupational functioning and capacity
for independent living."
2.
Disorganized Type
Disorganised schizophrenia (also known as
hebephrenic schizophrenia) is characterized by
disorganized thinking (inability to form logical
and coherent thoughts, inability to initiate
plans), disorganized speech (to wander through a
topic, jump from an idea to another, on
unintelligible speech), and disorganized behavior
(childlike silliness, swearing or shouting out of
the blue, neglecting personal hygiene,
inappropriate sexual behavior in public, wearing
many layers of clothes on a warm day, urinating
in public, grimacing, mannerisms), and flat or
inappropriate affect. In some cases, delusions
and hallucinations can be present but they are
not organized into a coherent theme. This type of
schizophrenia severely disrupts the person's
ability to function normally. The person cannot
perform daily activities (showering, grooming,
dressing, or preparing meals) and interact with
others. Disorganized schizophrenia is associated
with an early and insidious onset, and "a
continuous course without significant
remissions." |
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3. Catatonic Type
Catatonic schizophrenia is a rare form of schizophrenia
among the North American and Europian population, and is
characterized by marked psychomotor disturbances such as
(1) motoric immobility (catalepsy - persisting in unusual
postures or facial expressions regardless of the exterior
stimuli, or stupor - lack of cognitive function and level
of consciousness when the person is almost entirely
unresponsive and responds only to base stimuli such as
pain), (2) excessive motor activity (the motor activity
appears bizarre, purposeless, and unconnected with the
surroundings), (3) extreme negativism (maintaining a
rigid posture by resisting all the instructions or
attempts to be moved), (4) mutism (inability or
unwillingness to speak), (5) peculiarities of voluntary
movement (voluntary assumption of inappropriate or
bizarre posture or prominent grimacing), (6) echolalia
(pathological, apparently senseless repetition of a word
or phrase spoken by somebody else), or (7) echopraxia
(involuntary repetition or imitation of someone else
movements).
During episodes of
catatonic stupor or excitement, the patient requires
careful supervision in order to avoid harming themselves
or those around them. The main health risks associated
with catatonic schizophrenia include malnutrition,
exhaustion, self-inflicted injuries, or hyperpyrexia
(excessive or unusual high body temperature).
4. Undifferentiated Type
This is a type of schizophrenia diagnosed when the
patient exhibits symptoms of schizophrenia which are not
sufficiently formed or specific enough to meet the
criteria of other types.
5. Residual Type
This type of schizophrenia is usually diagnosed when the
patient suffered at least one episode of schizophrenia,
but "the current clinical picture is without
prominent positive symptoms" (delusions,
hallucinations, disorganized speech or behavior).
Residual schizophrenia is characterized by the presence
of negative symptoms (flat affect, poverty of speech, or
avolition) that can be briefly interrupted by a few
positive symptoms such as odd beliefs, delusions and
hallucinations, mildly disorganized speech, or eccentric
behavior, but they are not prominent and do not cause
severe dysfunctions. Residual schizophrenia can be
indefinitely with or without acute exacerbations, and
represents the transition period between full-blown
psychotic episodes and complete remission.
Article by Alina Morrow
MS Psychology
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com
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