Diagnosing schizophrenia
If you are concerned that you may be developing symptoms of schizophrenia, see your GP as soon as possible. The earlier schizophrenia is treated, the more successful the outcome tends to be.
Your GP will ask you about your symptoms and check that they are not the result of other causes, such as recreational drug use.
Community mental health team (CMHT)
If a diagnosis of schizophrenia is suspected, your GP will probably refer you to your local community mental health team (CMHT).
CMHTs are made up of different mental health professionals who support people with complex mental health conditions.
A member of the CMHT team, usually a psychologist or psychiatrist, will carry out a more detailed assessment of your symptoms. They will also want to know about your personal history and current circumstances.
There is no single test for schizophrenia. Most mental healthcare professionals use a 'diagnostic checklist', where the presence of certain symptoms and signs indicate that a person has schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia can usually be diagnosed if:
- You have at least two of the following symptoms: delusions, hallucinations, disordered thoughts or behaviour or the presence of negative symptoms, such as a flattening of emotions.
- Your symptoms have had a significant impact on your ability to work, study or perform daily tasks.
- You have experienced symptoms for more than six months.
- All other possible causes, such as recreational drug use or depression, have been ruled out.
Getting help for someone else
Due to their delusional thought patterns, people with schizophrenia may be reluctant to visit their GP if they believe there is nothing wrong with them.
It is likely that someone who has had acute schizophrenic episodes in the past will have been assigned a care co-ordinator. If this is the case, contact the person's care co-ordinator to express your concerns.
If someone is having an acute schizophrenic episode for the first time, it may be necessary for a friend, relative or other loved one to persuade them to visit their GP. In the case of a rapidly worsening schizophrenic episode, you may need to go to the accident and emergency (A&E) department where a duty psychiatrist will be available.
If a person who is having an acute schizophrenic episode refuses to seek help and it is believed that they present a risk to themselves or others, their nearest relative can request that a mental health assessment is carried out.
The social services department of your local authority can advise you about how to do this.
In severe cases of schizophrenia, people can be compulsorily detained in hospital for assessment and treatment under the Mental Health Act (2007).
After diagnosis
If you (or a friend or relative) are diagnosed with schizophrenia, you may feel anxious about what will happen. You may be worried about the stigma attached to the condition, or feel frightened and withdrawn. It is important to remember that a diagnosis can be a positive step towards getting good, straightforward information about the illness and the kinds of treatment and services available.
Sometimes, it might not be clear whether someone has schizophrenia. If you have other symptoms at the same time, a psychiatrist may have reason to believe that you have a related mental illness.
There are several related mental illnesses that are similar to schizophrenia. Your psychiatrist will ask you how your illness has affected you so that they can confidently confirm that you have schizophrenia and not another mental illness, such as:
- Bipolar disorder (manic depression). People with bipolar disorder swing from periods of mania (elevated moods and extremely active, excited behaviour) to periods of deep depression. But between the episodes of depression and mania, there can be stable moods. Some people with bipolar disorder also hear voices or experience other kinds of hallucinations or may have delusions.
- Schizoaffective disorder. Schizoaffective disorder is often described as a form of schizophrenia because its symptoms are similar to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. But schizoaffective disorder is a mental illness in its own right. It may occur just once in a person s life or may recur intermittently, often when triggered by stress.
Want to know more?
- Mind: Understanding bipolar disorder (manic depression).
- Rethink: About bipolar disorder.
- Mind: Understanding schizoaffective disorder.
- Rethink: About schizoaffective disorder.
