Advantages of reconceptualizing schizophrenia in clinical practice

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.