Doctors must run several tests and exams - both physical and mental - in order to diagnose paranoid schizophrenia. In performing these exams and tests, doctors will try to rule out other conditions, such as drug abuse, that can cause similar symptoms. First, a doctor will often conduct a general physical exam with lab work. Next, you will generally be asked to talk with a psychologist about your beliefs and thoughts. Doctors use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to diagnose paranoid schizophrenia. To have the disorder, according to the manual, you must hear things that are not there (usually voices), and spend much time engaged in your delusions.
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