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How is schizophrenia diagnosed?

The diagnosis of schizophrenia will usually be made by a psychiatrist after asking questions and finding out about your medical history. If your doctor suspects that you have schizophrenia, they may conduct some tests to rule out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms. This may include a blood test, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computerized tomography (CT) scans. As there is no specific test that can confirm schizophrenia, a diagnosis is usually made on the basis of symptoms. Usually people diagnosed with schizophrenia will have at least two of the following symptoms for a period of six months or more: delusions; hallucinations; disorganized behavior; disorganized speech; social withdrawal; memory problems, and; suicidal thoughts and self-harm.

FAQ Frequently asked questions

What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a complex disorder of the mind that results in a person having mixed-up thoughts and feelings. The main symptoms include delusions and hallucinations. People with schizophrenia may also become withdrawn, depressed, confused and agitated and may …

What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?

There are many different symptoms associated with schizophrenia. It is common for people with schizophrenia to have delusions, which are strong beliefs in things that are clearly not true. People with schizophrenia may also experience hallucinations, …

Who gets schizophrenia?

While anyone can develop schizophrenia, you are more likely to develop the condition if you: have a close family member with the condition; have older parents; are exposed to certain viruses or malnutrition before birth, and; use drugs such as cannabis and LSD.

Can schizophrenia be cured?

There is no cure for schizophrenia, but there are medications and support programs available that can help control the symptoms and help affected people to lead normal lives.

How is schizophrenia treated?

If you have schizophrenia, it is likely that you will need lifelong treatment to keep your symptoms under control. The most effective treatment is usually a combination of medication, psychosocial therapy and self-help resources.

Can schizophrenia be prevented?

There is no exact way to prevent schizophrenia. Recognizing the condition and getting treatment early may help get symptoms under control before they become too serious. If you have an increased risk of schizophrenia, avoiding illegal drug use, reducing …

What is a delusion?

A person with schizophrenia may have delusions, which are very strong beliefs in things that are clearly not true. For example, a person with schizophrenia may believe that aliens are trying to control their thoughts, or that the government is plotting against them.

What is a hallucination?

A hallucination is a sensory experience of something that is not real. The most common hallucination is hearing voices, but some people see things or feel things that are not really there.

Can taking drugs cause schizophrenia?

Using some types of drugs, such as LSD and cannabis, has been linked to an increased chance of developing schizophrenia.

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About this article

Author: Dr Joanne Van der Velden PhD, BSc (Hons)
First answered: 10 Jul 2015
Last reviewed: 19 May 2018
Rating: 4.4 out of 5
Votes: 952 (Click smiley face below to rate)
Category: Paranoid personality disorder

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