Schizophrenia Health Center
Table of Contents
Many of the symptoms of schizophrenia also may indicate other mental conditions or problems like depression, extreme anxiety or drug abuse. This can make the immediate diagnosis of schizophrenia difficult, so to be diagnosed with the disorder, a patient has to have had symptoms for at least six months.
Because no physical test can confirm the presence of schizophrenia, the only lab tests a doctor will perform when testing for the disorder will be to rule out other conditions.
After the doctor has ruled out other possible conditions, he or she will interview the patient. Questions might cover internal thoughts, delusions and violent inclinations. During the interviews, the doctor will observe the patient's behavior, too.