Some symptoms of schizophrenia can be easier to recognize because they stand out distinctly from a person’s usual behavior.
Schizophrenia symptoms are often classified as either positive or negative. You can think of these symptoms as those that add behaviors (positive) and those that decrease them (negative).
For instance, positive symptoms often involve hallucinations or delusions — symptoms that not everyone would experience. Negative symptoms disrupt common emotions, behaviors, and abilities, such as experiencing a lack of emotion.
According to the DSM-5, in order to be diagnosed with schizophrenia someone must experience 2 or more of the following symptoms most of the time for at least 1 month:
delusions
hallucinations
incoherent speech or speech that quickly switches from topic to topic
severely disorganized behavior such as issues with motor function or inexplicable agitation or giddiness, or catatonia
negative symptoms (e.g., just sitting with no interest in going to work, school, or engaging in any activities)
At least one of the first three symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech) must be present.
These symptoms must significantly affect one or more major areas in your life — such as your work, relationships, or just generally taking care of yourself.
There must also be continuous signs of disturbance over the course of 6 months with at least 1 month of active symptoms.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations involve “unreal” perceptions, or experiencing something that someone else doesn’t — like seeing something that isn’t really there.
Hallucinations can affect any of your senses, but they most often occur as auditory hallucinations, like hearing voices that aren’t there.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations involve “unreal” perceptions, or experiencing something that someone else doesn’t — like seeing something that isn’t really there.
Hallucinations can affect any of your senses, but they most often occur as auditory hallucinations, like hearing voices that aren’t there.
Diagnosis of schizophrenia
People are often diagnosed with schizophrenia in early adulthood, when they first experience an episode of delusions or hallucinations.
The condition is most often formally diagnosed by a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker. However, you may first seek help from your primary care doctor.
Your healthcare provider will likely use a combination of evaluation and tests to diagnose you, such as:
blood tests
a physical exam
imaging tests, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan
questions about your medical history, mental health, and family medical history
They’ll also rule out any other potential causes for symptoms such as substance use or other mental health conditions.
Schizophrenia treatment
While there’s no cure for schizophrenia, there are effective treatments available including:
medications
therapy
social support treatment
vocational rehabilitation
wellness, lifestyle, and self-care tools
Each person reacts to medications in different ways, so it’s important to work closely with a doctor that has experience treating schizophrenia. The medications often used for schizophrenia are called antipsychotics.
In addition to medications, many people with schizophrenia also benefit from some form of psychotherapy or social support treatment.
Schizophrenia symptoms are often classified as either positive or negative. You can think of these symptoms as those that add behaviors (positive) and those that decrease them (negative).
For instance, positive symptoms often involve hallucinations or delusions — symptoms that not everyone would experience. Negative symptoms disrupt common emotions, behaviors, and abilities, such as experiencing a lack of emotion.
According to the DSM-5, in order to be diagnosed with schizophrenia someone must experience 2 or more of the following symptoms most of the time for at least 1 month:
delusions
hallucinations
incoherent speech or speech that quickly switches from topic to topic
severely disorganized behavior such as issues with motor function or inexplicable agitation or giddiness, or catatonia
negative symptoms (e.g., just sitting with no interest in going to work, school, or engaging in any activities)
At least one of the first three symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech) must be present.
These symptoms must significantly affect one or more major areas in your life — such as your work, relationships, or just generally taking care of yourself.
There must also be continuous signs of disturbance over the course of 6 months with at least 1 month of active symptoms.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations involve “unreal” perceptions, or experiencing something that someone else doesn’t — like seeing something that isn’t really there.
Hallucinations can affect any of your senses, but they most often occur as auditory hallucinations, like hearing voices that aren’t there.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations involve “unreal” perceptions, or experiencing something that someone else doesn’t — like seeing something that isn’t really there.
Hallucinations can affect any of your senses, but they most often occur as auditory hallucinations, like hearing voices that aren’t there.
Diagnosis of schizophrenia
People are often diagnosed with schizophrenia in early adulthood, when they first experience an episode of delusions or hallucinations.
The condition is most often formally diagnosed by a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker. However, you may first seek help from your primary care doctor.
Your healthcare provider will likely use a combination of evaluation and tests to diagnose you, such as:
blood tests
a physical exam
imaging tests, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan
questions about your medical history, mental health, and family medical history
They’ll also rule out any other potential causes for symptoms such as substance use or other mental health conditions.
Schizophrenia treatment
While there’s no cure for schizophrenia, there are effective treatments available including:
medications
therapy
social support treatment
vocational rehabilitation
wellness, lifestyle, and self-care tools
Each person reacts to medications in different ways, so it’s important to work closely with a doctor that has experience treating schizophrenia. The medications often used for schizophrenia are called antipsychotics.
In addition to medications, many people with schizophrenia also benefit from some form of psychotherapy or social support treatment.