These must have been present for at least one month. One of those two must be delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech. To receive a schizophrenia diagnosis, someone can have any of the symptoms and features, but he must have the following: In order for someone to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, he must experience a group of these symptoms and features. Substance use/abuse has been ruled out as a cause Schizoaffective disorder, major depression, and bipolar disorder have been ruled outĮ. The symptoms in Criterion A have persisted for at least 6 monthsĭ.
Disorganized speech (such as speaking incoherently, losing track of thoughts)Ĭ. Professionals use specific diagnostic features in the DSM-5 to help determine whether someone meets the criteria for schizophrenia. Just what are the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia? Diagnosing Schizophrenia Using Symptoms and Features Beyond this, age isn’t a diagnostic criterion. Schizophrenia won’t be the first consideration for a man in his 40s, for example. Further, while it’s rare, schizophrenia can be diagnosed as early as childhood and as late as the 40s ( What Are the Schizophrenia Symptoms in Children and Teens?).Īge provides a general idea of the likelihood that someone has schizophrenia. This varies, though, with peak ages ranging from the early- to mid-20s for males and late-20s for females ( Are Schizophrenia Symptoms in Males and Females Different?). The typical age of schizophrenia diagnosis is between late adolescence and the mid-30s. While it’s not part of the diagnostic criteria, they do consider someone’s age. Mental health professionals use the DSM-5 when determining what someone is experiencing. SCHIZOPHRENIA DSM 5 MANUAL
Created and published by the American Psychiatric Association, this comprehensive manual describes all known mental disorders, among them schizophrenia.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)is the authority on mental illness. Criteria for Schizophrenia Diagnosis in DSM-5 To determine whether someone has the disorder, doctors follow established criteria for a schizophrenia diagnosis.
Because a correct schizophrenia diagnosis can improve someone’s quality of life, it’s important that it be made as soon as possible after the symptoms of schizophrenia appear.Ĭurrently, no tests can provide a schizophrenia diagnosis. Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that deeply affects people.