European Psychiatry - Volume 41 - April 2017

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25th European Congress of Psychiatry
Debate
Debate: Is the concept of schizophrenia useful?
D001
Pro
W. Gaebel
Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
The concept of schizophrenia has undergone many changes since
its first inception in the early 20th century. Basically, the concept
has stood the tests of time, as it provides useful information about
the clinical picture, the clinical course and the available treat-
ment modalities. Any alternative concept will need to show that
it provides similar information. The concept has also been useful to
establish evidence–based guidelines for diagnosis and treatment,
and to provide valuable information as regards psychosocial out-
comes. In addition, recent genetic and neurophysiological studies
have shown that common grounds of aetiopathogenesis can be
identified, in that schizophrenia is a mental disorder with some
genetic influences and a common pathway in complex disturbances
of brain circuits due to altered neurotranmission. Current research
focuses on identifying biomarkers for early detection, another area
of mental healthcare in which a staging model of schizophrenia
proved useful. This presentation will highlight the most pertinent
arguments for keeping schizophrenia as a useful diagnostic and
therapeutic concept of a mental disorder.
Unterstützung bei Symposien/Symposia Support
− Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Neuss;
− Aristo Pharma GmbH, Berlin;
− Lilly Deutschland GmbH, Bad Homburg;
− Servier Deutschland GmbH, München;
Fakultätsmitglied/Faculty Member;
− Lundbeck International Neuroscience Foundation (LINF), Däne-
mark.
Disclosure of interest The author declares that he has no
competing interest.
D002
Con
M. Musalek
Anton Proksch Institute, Gräfin Zichy Straße 4-6, 1230, Vienna,
Austria
The analysis of the historical development of the currently used
diagnosis schizophrenia in DSM or ICD classification indicates
that sticking to established terms and methodologies more and
more develops to an obstacle in schizophrenia research. The aim
of the currently used operational diagnostic approach was to
reach reliability of diagnoses between different psychiatrists and
researchers as high as possible. This should improve the com-
munication between different research groups and better the
comparison of study results. The aim of a high reliability has surely
been reached, however, the expected striking progress in research
and clinical praxis failed to materialize till today. Reliability,
which means agreement, does not simultaneously means valid-
ity. Modern brain and genetic research requires more homogenous
clinical syndromes or ‘diseases’ to examine them with scientifi-
cally based methodologies and technologies. The prerequisite for
doing this, however, is going back to clinical and empirical real-
ities and to integrate these realities into the development of a
new generation of classification systems that are free of dogmatic
thinking.
Disclosure of interest The author declares that he has no
competing interest.
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