Special Aticle

Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research 2008;11(2):89-96.

정신분열병의 새로운 명칭에 대한 제안：사각민감병(장애)

Young-Chul Chung, MD, PhD1,2, Chun-Rong Li, MD1 and Jong-Ik Park, MD, PhD3

Abstract

The stigma for the term “schizophrenia” seems to be greater in Asian countries where the Chinese ideographic writing system is being used. Because of its direct and negative expression of the meaning of schizophrenia as “the disease of split mind”, Japan changed schizophrenia as “Integration disorder” in 2005 and Hong Kong recently replaced psychosis with “si-jue-shi-diao (dysregulation of thought and perception)”. Recently in Korea, there has been a request for the change of the name “schizophrenia” from the Korean Family Association for Mental Health. For the purpose of encouraging an active participation and interest from psychiatrists and related mental health professionals in Korea, described are several debate issues and key principles in renaming schizophrenia and candidate names for schizophrenia and their pros and cons. I personally propose a “Thought and Perception Sensitivity Disorder (TPSS)”. Whatever the name will be, it should have scientific validity and clinical utility and be able to decrease stigma attached to it, resulting in an enhancement of the self-esteem of patients and their family members. (Korean J Schizophr Res 2008;11:89-96)

Key Words: Schizophrenia,Stigma,Integration disorder,Dysregulation of thought and perception,Thought perception sensitivity disorder.