Schizophrenia

There are many symptoms associated with schizophrenia, but people who have schizophrenia usually show only some of them. When a therapist is deciding whether to make a diagnosis of schizophrenia, he or she looks at a book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, now in its fourth edition (DSM-IV).

The DSM-IV provides guidelines for how many symptoms the person must have and how severe the symptoms must be in order for the person to be diagnosed with the disorder. The DSM-IV calls for a diagnosis of schizophrenia when a person continuously shows two or more major symptoms of the disorder for at least six months. In addition, the person must show difficulties in one or more areas of functioning, such as work or school, relationships with others, and taking care of himself or herself (basic hygiene, grooming, etc.).