Diagnosis of Schizophrenia
The diagnosis of schizophrenia is not easy. Sometimes utilizing drugs such as LSD or methamphetamine, might lead to an individual having symptoms like schizophrenia. The problem of diagnosing such illness is compounded by the reality that various people who are diagnosing do not think they will have it. Lack of knowledge is a most occurring symptom of individuals diagnosed with greatly complicated treatment and schizophrenia. The first step for the treatment of schizophrenia is having a correct diagnosis. This is not always easy, since the schizophrenia symptoms might resemble those that lead to other physical and mental problems. Therefore, individuals having schizophrenia might think that nothing is wrong and avoid going to the doctor. (5)
Because of such problems, it is best to look for a psychiatrist having experience in treating and identifying schizophrenia, rather than a doctor in the family. While there is no single lab or physical test that might diagnose schizophrenia, a healthcare giver who assesses the symptoms and the course of an individual’s illness by six months might aid in making sure a proper diagnosis. The healthcare giver must check out other factors such as possible medical conditions, brain tumors, and another psychiatric diagnosis like bipolar disorder. (6)
To be diagnosed with schizophrenia, an individual must have two or more of the symptoms in the following occurring mostly in the context of lowering the function:
- Negative symptoms
- Delusions
- Disorganized speech
- Hallucinations
- Catatonic or disorganized behavior
A proper diagnosis of schizophrenia includes the determination of symptoms of the condition and ruling out other mental disorders. There might be certain mental health disorders that can cause similar symptoms as schizophrenia. In addition, certain symptoms of schizophrenia might be due to medications or substance abuse. It is important to determine the actual diagnosis of schizophrenia which includes the following tests