ABSTRACT
This chapter briefly reiterates the orthodox position that schizophrenia is a category of disorder. It is noted that DSM-5 distinguishes schizophrenia from other disorders through diagnostic criteria and identifying differences like severity and duration, and that ICD-11 also conceptualises schizophrenia as a category. Challenges in establishing securely the validity and reliability of schizophrenia, and related issues is discussed. The chapter examines the criticism that schizophrenia was ‘invented’ by psychology founders Kraepelin and Bleuler, and that the conceptualisation of schizophrenia lacks scientific rigour. Weaknesses in this criticism is identified. Dissenting alternatives to categorisation are examined. One is adopting a continuum extending between wellness and schizophrenia (and psychosis generally) and having no firm dividing lines. Another alternative is a symptoms-based approach focusing on identifiable groups of symptoms ‘within’ schizophrenia tending to cohere. Difficulties faced by these alternatives are discussed. Returning to the orthodox position, the chapter reviews and endorses arguments for retaining the category of schizophrenia. This involves recognising where criticism is justifiable and responding accordingly and refining the concept of schizophrenia according to new evidence.
