title: Advantages of reconceptualizing schizophrenia in clinical practice.
abstract: Weiss (1989) has proposed abandoning symptom-based diagnosis for schizophrenia research. It is proposed that such a system confuses treatment of symptoms with treatment of the underlying process from which it emanates. Furthermore, it proposes that while a symptom-based system is striving for clarity and objectivity, it is conceptually barren and, thus, offers no treatment framework. A proposed, heuristic model by which to conceptualize major psychiatric disorders is discussed. It is argued that it would have clinical advantages of greater patient acceptance, less social stigma, provide a treatment agenda, allow objective measurement of deficits along a continuum, be more comprehensible by both patient and family, and be more relevant to daily living.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44141.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001143:Arousal; D003071:Cognition; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents