Diagnosing Schizophrenia

                   According to the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, in order for a psychiatrist to make a diagnosis of schizophrenia, the patient has to experience specific symptoms over a period of time. According to the information, a diagnosis of schizophrenia can be made only if a person meets the following criteria:

        1) Two of the following five symptoms for about 30 days: Hallucinations, delusions, negative symptoms, disorganized behavior or disorganized speech.

        2) Some signs and symptoms have to be present for a minimum of six months.

        3) There must be no indecation of bipolar disorder, symptoms mania alternating with depression.

          4) Can not be a medical or neurological cause of the symptoms.

        5) The symptoms cannot be caused by the use of illegal drugs, alcohol or medication.

Types of Schizophrenia:

        1) Paranoid Schizophrenia - Hallucination
        2) Disorganized Schizophrenia - Very Psychotic
        3) Catatomic Schizophrenia
        4) Residual Schizophrenia

Type I and Type II:

         Type I Schizophrenia - patients have mostly hallucinations, delusions, disorganized behavior. These are positive symptoms.

         Type II Schizophrenia - Patients show more negative symptoms than type I patients. They include lack of initiative, motivation, their faces are unexpressive.

         Schizoaffective disorder - is a condition that has symptoms of psychosis and symptoms of mania or depression. Schizoaffective disorder can be bipolar type or depressive type.

Early warning signs of schizophrenia:

• Social Withdrawal
• Hostility or suspiciousness
• Deterrotation of personal hygene
• Flat expressionless gaze
• Inability to cry or express joy
• Inappropriate laughter or crying
• Depression
• Oversleeping or Insomnia
• Odd or Irrational Statements
• Forgetful, unable to concentrate
• Extreme reaction to criticism
• Strange use of words way of speaking

Signs and Symptoms of Disorganized Schizophrenia:

           Disorganized schizophrenia is most likely to appear at an earlier age than other types of schizophrenia. It starts gradually, rather than abruptly.

           The Symptoms of disorganized schizophrenia

• Impaired communication skills
• Incomprehensible or Illogical Speech
• Emotional indifference
• Inappropriate reactions
• Infantile Behavior
• Peculiar Facial expression and mannerism