Schizophrenia : Diagnostic criteria

Schizophrenia is a complex and often debilitating mental disorder that profoundly affects an individual's thoughts, emotions, and behaviour. It is a condition that has fascinated and challenged clinicians and researchers for generations, as they seek to understand its underlying causes, manifestations, and effective treatments. To provide a standardized framework for the diagnosis of schizophrenia and other mental disorders, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) developed the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). This authoritative guide serves as a critical resource for mental health professionals, offering a comprehensive set of criteria that enable them to identify and classify various mental disorders accurately.

It is important to note that

• In 2013, the diagnostic name changed from "schizophrenia" to "schizophrenia spectrum disorder" in the DSM-5, allowing diagnosis based on symptom severity.
• These changes were implemented by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) to enhance diagnosis reliability.
• The changes did not affect those already diagnosed, as over 99.5% still met the criteria.
• The DSM-5 made minor wording adjustments to symptoms and criteria for diagnosis.
• The five key symptoms of schizophrenia remained the same: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behaviour, and negative symptoms.
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• The DSM-5 revised the number of symptoms required...