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Symptoms & Diagnosis

Understanding Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness that is easily misunderstood. Schizophrenics often struggle with thinking logically. Get the facts on this surprisingly common condition ›

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Is It Schizophrenia or Something Else?

It's confusing when your own reality seems out of sync with the rest of the world's view of things. You might jump to the conclusion that the problem is schizophrenia. But other conditions can also cause symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. Getting a correct diagnosis is the first—and very important—step toward finding effective help.

Life would be simpler if there were a lab test or brain scan that could definitely tell whether you have schizophrenia. Unfortunately, it's not so easy. To make the diagnosis, a health care professional first evaluates your symptoms, how long they've lasted, and how they affect your daily life. Then the professional considers all possible causes before deciding whether the symptoms are due to schizophrenia or something else.

What are the other possible causes of symptoms ›

Are You Winning the Battle Against Schizophrenia?

Find out how well you're controlling your disease.

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Does a New Blood Test for Schizophrenia Make the Grade?

Unlike a cholesterol test, which can reveal a definite risk of heart disease, there have never been lab tests to diagnose the risk for or presence of mental health disorders. But that may be changing. Now a blood test called VeriPsych aims to help diagnose people with schizophrenia. The test is new, however, so it's still unclear how well it really works.

VeriPsych is the first blood test designed to aid in diagnosing schizophrenia soon after the first symptoms appear. The test was introduced in the United States in 2010. It analyzes a set of 51 proteins in the blood, called biomarkers. These biomarkers have been linked to brain health and schizophrenia.

Learn how the test works in helping diagnose schizophrenia ›

Spotlight on Schizophrenia

Glossary of Schizophrenia Terms

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Agranulocytosis, Anxiety Disorder, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Delusion, Depression, Disorganization, Dopamine, Euphoria, Hallucination, Illusion, Neurophysiology, OCD, Panic Disorder, Paranoia, Paranoid, Polygenic, Psychosis, Schizophrenia, Tardive Dyskinesia

Reference: Mental Health and Behavior section on Better Medicine