How is schizophrenia diagnosed?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:Diagnosis can take a few months and even up to six months as your doc watches your symptoms and rules out other illnesses. To diagnose schizophrenia, a doctor will start by doing a thorough physical and mental evaluation. The physical exam is extremely important when diagnosing schizophrenia. Many health conditions, as well as drug and alcohol abuse, can mimic schizophrenia. So the physical will help rule these out. In addition, the doctor will ask the patient many questions about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. To diagnosis schizophrenia, once other conditions or health problems are excluded as possibilities, patients must have had at least two of the following symptoms lasting for a significant period of time over the previous month -- hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior, and negative symptoms -- and problems performing and completing daily tasks at work or in their social circles, and some of the positive or negative symptoms for at least six months.Diagnosis can take a few months and even up to six months as your doc watches your symptoms and rules out other illnesses. To diagnose schizophrenia, a doctor will start by doing a thorough physical and mental evaluation. The physical exam is... More -
In order to diagnose a person who may have schizophrenia, doctors must use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), published by the American Psychological Association. The DSM has very strict diagnosis criteria, which includes the following:
- Doctors must conduct physical tests to make sure the symptoms are not being caused by a biological disorder. In addition, doctors will use these tests to make sure that drugs are not causing symptoms.
- A psychiatrist must conduct a psychiatric examination to make sure schizophrenia-like symptoms are not caused by another mental disorder.
- A person must exhibit at least two symptoms of schizophrenia that persist over one month.
In order to diagnose a person who may have schizophrenia, doctors must use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), published by the American Psychological Association. The DSM has very strict diagnosis criteria, which includes the following:... More -
Diagnosing schizophrenia is very complex, and will normally be done by a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist will ask the person about their experiences, how long they have had the symptoms, and what impact the symptoms are having on their life.
In many countries, the psychiatrist will decide if the patient's symptoms meet the requirements for a diagnosis of schizophrenia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (the current edition is commonly referred to by doctors as the DSMIV-TR) or the International Classification of Diseases (the ICD-10). In Europe it is more likely that the psychiatrist will use the ICD. In the USA, the DSM is commonly used. Other classification systems may be used in some areas, for example China and Latin America.
Other possible causes for the symptoms, such as another mental disorder, drug use, or a physical health problem, will also have to be ruled out. This is called a differential diagnosis.Diagnosing schizophrenia is very complex, and will normally be done by a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist will ask the person about their experiences, how long they have had the symptoms, and what impact the symptoms are having on their life.... More -
Donna Hill Howes answered:Schizophrenia is diagnosed based on an in-depth interview of the person thought to have schizophrenia. The person's family members may also be interviewed. There are no lab tests or brain scans that prove the diagnosis of schizophrenia. However, these tests may be done to rule out other possible reasons for the person's symptoms. For instance, a person with a brain tumor may have a change in behavior. Drug use (which can show up on blood tests) may cause hallucinations or delusions.
The diagnosis of schizophrenia is made when the person meets the criteria set forth in American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The list of the criteria required to make an official diagnosis is a long one, but it includes having symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech for longer than six months and ruling out other causes for the symptoms, such as a brain tumor or drug use. Another important aspect of DSM criteria is that the symptoms must result in a decrease in the person's ability to function, whether in his relationships, at work, or in his ability to care for himself.Schizophrenia is diagnosed based on an in-depth interview of the person thought to have schizophrenia. The person's family members may also be interviewed. There are no lab tests or brain scans that prove the diagnosis of schizophrenia.... More
