How Is Schizophrenia Diagnosed?

Schizophrenia is defined by the National Institute of Mental Health as a chronic, severe and disabling brain disorder. It is an illness that affects only 1 percent of all Americans. For patients waiting for a diagnosis, it is one of the scariest and least understood disorders around. There is also no definitive test for diagnosing schizophrenia, only a laundry list of symptoms that fall into three broad categories.

Positive symptoms

Positive symptoms are characterized by psychotic behavior where the person seems to lose touch with reality. This behavior is pronounced at times and barely noticeable at other times. Hallucinations, or hearing "voices", is the most common symptom of schizophrenia. Other hallucinations may involve seeing, smelling or feeling things that are not there. Delusions, "disorganized thinking" and agitated body movements are other positive symptoms.

Negative symptoms

Negative symptoms are a disruptions of regular emotions and behavior. Negative symptoms include a lack of pleasure in life, lack of interest in planned activities and refusal to speak to others. These symptoms are often mistaken as depression or related conditions.

Cognitive symptoms

Cognitive symptoms are often overlooked because they are sometimes subtle. Some symptoms include the inability to synthesize information in order to make decisions, trouble focusing and the inability to use newly-attained information.

The cause of schizophrenia is unknown, although heredity, brain chemistry and structure are contributing factors. As a result, doctors focus on eliminating the symptoms of the disease with antipsychotic drugs. Psychosocial treatments like illness management, rehabilitation, cognitive behavioral therapy and self-help groups are also used.