Definition:
Schizophrenia is one of the psychotic disorders recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Psychotic disorders involve major impairments in reality, including symptoms such as hallucinations (i.e., perceiving things that are not there) and delusions (i.e., holding strong beliefs that are not based in reality).
To be diagnosed with schizophrenia, a person must meet the following criteria:
- Two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of the time during a 1-month period: (1) delusions, (2) hallucinations, (3) disorganized speech, (4) grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior, (5) symptoms such as flat affect (i.e. showing no emotion), or inability to engage in goal-directed behavior
- Social/occupational dysfunction: one or more major areas of functioning (e.g., work, relationships, self-care) are markedly lower than before the symptoms began.
- Duration: Continuous signs of the disturbance for at least 6 months, including at least 1 month of active symptoms.
- Symptoms are not due to another disorder (e.g., major depressive disorder, autism), and are not due to substance use or a medical condition.
Source:
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. American Psychiatric Association Press: Washington DC, 2000.
