Von der „Schizophrenie“ zur „Störung der Einheit des Selbst“

Abstract

In August 2002 the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology decided to rename the Japanese expression for schizophrenia from Sêshin Bunretsu Byô to Tôgô Shicchô Shô. Currently the psychiatric classification systems ICD-10 and DSM-IV are under revision. Against this background the Japanese process of renaming a psychiatric disorder is of high interest as far as the clinical, social and cultural implications of the new name are concerned.The authors give an overview of the Japanese process of renaming schizophrenia. Its background and realization are explained and the expectations of Japanese physicians, patients and their families related to the new name are analysed. Furthermore, its effects are evaluated. The aim of the paper is to clarify in how far the Japanese example may serve as a model for evaluating the possible implications that a renaming or nosological redefinition of schizophrenia might have in the course of the revision process of ICD 10 and DSM IV.

Stigma toward Schizophrenia among Parents of High School Students

“…Previous Japanese studies found evidence of self-stigma among people with schizophrenia ( Uchino et al, 2012 ), stigma among psychiatric staff ( Hanzawa et al, 2012 ; Hori et al, 2011 ), and a change in attitudes toward the disease after the official Japanese term used for schizophrenia was changed ( Umehara et al, 2011 ). Previous studies also identified factors associated with early intervention for schizophrenia, including the attitudes of parents of junior and senior high school students ( Yoshii et al, 2011 ), the impact of changing the term used for schizophrenia in Japan (due to stereotypical beliefs regarding schizophrenia) ( Takahashi et al, 2009 ), and attitudes toward schizophrenia among Japanese and Taiwanese elementary school teachers ( Kurumatani et al, 2004 ).…”

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

“…The drive for comparability in psychiatric classification and reliability of diagnoses prevents doctors from seeing patients in their cultural diversity and makes it more difficult for them to identify with and empathize with the help‐seeking person. Although renaming schizophrenia in Japan showed a favorable outcome on the acceptance of the disorder by both patients and the general population (Umehara et al ., ), these findings are restricted to Japan because of the specific situation and tradition of the term schizophrenia there. Because of its occidental view on etiology and nosology, salience syndrome is probably not applicable in Japan and other non‐occidental regions of the world.…”

“…The known negative consequences of the diagnosis prevented doctors in Japan from telling patients their diagnosis and reduced communication about the disorder between patients and caregivers or relatives (Ono et al ., ). The general fear of uncontrolled and even dangerous schizophrenia patients resulted in admission of schizophrenia patients to psychiatric institutions and social isolation of families and relatives (Umehara et al ., ). After many years of discussion and preparation, the new Japanese term “togo shicchou sho” (association or integration disorder, disturbance of the unity of the self) was adopted by the Japanese Society of Psychiatrists and Neurologists (JSPN) in 2002 (Kim, ; Desapriya and Nobutada, ; Sato, ).…”

Association of social distance toward schizophrenia with help-seeking among mothers of adolescents in Japan

“…The label of schizophrenia is related to stigma [20,21]. In Japan, the disease name was changed from seishin bunretsu byou to tougou shicchou shou in 2002, after which the proportion of patients who were informed of their diagnosis increased from 36.7% to 69.7% in 3 years [22,23]. Therefore, the disease name likely affects the public image of the disease.…”