DSM-5 Schizophrenia Criteria Quiz

Diagnostic Criteria for Schizophrenia according to DSM-5

• A diagnosis of schizophrenia requires the presence of at least two of the following symptoms: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior, and negative symptoms.
• Symptoms must be present for at least 6 months, with at least one month of active symptoms.

Changes in DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria

• DSM-5 eliminated the distinction between different subtypes of schizophrenia, such as paranoid, disorganized, and catatonic schizophrenia, as they were not found to be reliable or valid.

Dimensional Approach

• The dimensional approach in DSM-5 assesses symptom severity in individuals with schizophrenia using a rating scale.
• The eight-item dimensional rating scale captures the following aspects:
  • Hallucinations
  • Delusions
  • Disorganized speech
  • Disorganized/catatonic behavior
  • Negative symptoms
  • Restricted emotional expression
  • Avolition
  • Cognitive impairment

Other Psychotic Disorders

• Delusional disorder is characterized by the presence of persistent and non-bizarre delusions.
• Brief psychotic disorder is a short-lived episode of psychosis lasting between one day and one month, usually triggered by stress or trauma.
• Schizophreniform disorder is an episode of psychosis lasting between one and six months, with symptoms similar to schizophrenia but no prior schizophrenic history.
• Schizoaffective disorder combines features of both schizophrenia and mood disorders.

Test your knowledge of the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia and learn about the symptoms, duration, and impact on daily life. Identify the key symptoms and understand the criteria for diagnosis.