Characteristics & Statistics of Schizophrenia (OCR GCSE Psychology): Revision Note

The clinical characteristics of schizophrenia

• Schizophrenia is one of the most severe and long-lasting mental health disorders

  • It affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, often causing a loss of contact with reality

• Schizophrenia is a complex psychotic disorder involving a range of cognitive, emotional, and behavioural symptoms

• Although recovery is possible, outcomes vary, highlighting the importance of:

  • early intervention

  • ongoing support

  • reducing stigma surrounding the disorder

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11)

• The ICD-11 outlines the key symptoms used by professionals to diagnose schizophrenia

• Symptoms must be present for most of the time during an episode lasting at least one month

Key symptom categories

• Thought disturbances

  • Confusion or disorganised thinking

  • Difficulty connecting ideas logically

• Delusions

  • False beliefs that are firmly held despite evidence to the contrary

  • e.g. believing others are controlling one’s thoughts

• Hallucinations

  • Experiencing things that are not real

  • Often hearing voices that give commentary or commands

• Disorganised speech

  • Incoherent, illogical, or fragmented communication

• Catatonic behaviour

  • Extreme physical behaviour such as stillness, rigidity, excitement or repetitive movements

• Negative symptoms

  • Loss of motivation, emotional flatness, poor social functioning, or lack of speech

Diagnostic criteria

• A diagnosis usually requires:

  • at least one of the following symptoms:

    • Thought echo or withdrawal

    • Delusions of control or influence

    • Hallucinatory voices giving commentary

    • Persistent delusions that are culturally inappropriate

• Or

  • at least two of the following:

    • Persistent hallucinations accompanied by delusions

    • Disorganised or incoherent speech

    • Catatonic behaviour

    • Negative symptoms such as apathy or blunted emotions

Key statistics of schizophrenia

Prevalence

• Around 1% of the British population is diagnosed with schizophrenia

  • This equates to over 600,000 people in the UK

Age and sex

• It is an adult-onset disorder, typically diagnosed before the age of 40

• Schizophrenia affects men and women equally, although the age of onset differs slightly between the sexes

  • Men tend to be diagnosed in their 20s

  • Women are more commonly diagnosed in their 30s

Ethnicity

• British people of Caribbean and African origin are more likely to be diagnosed than White people

• People of Asian origin have lower-than-average rates of diagnosis

Recovery rates

• Ten years after diagnosis:

  • 25% fully recover

  • 25% show significant improvement

  • 25% require ongoing support

  • 15% are hospitalised long-term

  • 10% have died, mainly through suicide

• Early diagnosis and treatment improve recovery chances