Organizing the complexities of schizophrenia

A wide range of factors contribute to the occurrence of schizophrenia and to its outcome. The complexity of the disorder is further heightened by the several semi-independent aspects of function that constitute its course. To provide a structure for dealing with these complexities, this report employs principles of multiaxial diagnosis to begin constructing an operational systems model of schizophrenia. Findings from an intensive qualitative study of schizophrenic subjects are used to develop this model from an empirical base.