Centenary of schizophrenia: Should the term survive “togo shicchou sho” and “salience syndrome”?

Abstract

The term "schizophrenia" has been associated with stigma since its appearance in 1911. Several destigmatization programs in occidental countries have had favorable results. In Japan, schizophrenia has been renamed as a kind of integration disorder. A debate is ongoing about whether to replace the term schizophrenia with "salience syndrome", a term that implies a disorder of stimulus-reaction control. Increased dopamine, a mediator between a stimulus and the affective reaction, is the supposed neurobiological correlate. Reducing the disease entity schizophrenia to a syndromal level might mean that accessory symptoms, which could be important for predicting the course and outcome of the illness, are neglected. A mere syndromal description with a new term will not improve destigmatization. It will, however, blur physicians' perception and impair patients' acceptance of the disorder. Furthermore, ethnic and cultural aspects are not reflected by nosological changes.bs_bs_banner Offi cial journal of the Pacifi c Rim College of Psychiatrists

Systematizing destigmatization in the context of media and communication: a systematic literature review

“…However, person-first language is not always effective in reducing stigmatization . Here, we have to bear in mind that language and terminology depend on regional and culturebound characteristics of populations (Palm, 2012;. Therefore, generalized and standardized interventions will probably not always be effective.…”