Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Schizophrenia?Spectrum DisordersAssociated ConditionsDiagnosisManagement
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Schizophrenia?
Spectrum Disorders
Associated Conditions
Diagnosis
Management
Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders is the category of mental health conditions in which psychosis is the primary symptom. Psychosis involveshallucinations(sensory experiences that are not real) and/ordelusions(persistent false beliefs that are not based in reality). While all people who have schizophrenia spectrum disorder experience psychosis, psychosis is a symptom of other conditions as well.
In the previous edition of the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-IV), there weredistinct subtypes of schizophrenia, a central condition in this category. In the current edition (DSM-5), these different types of schizophrenia were removed in favor of a broader definition of schizophrenia.
This article goes over the conditions that fall under the schizophrenia spectrum and their symptoms. It also discusses the diagnosis and management of these conditions.
Schizophreniais a complex and long-term mental illness that affects a person’s ability to think clearly, determine reality, manage emotions, relate with others, and function well cognitively.
Thesymptoms of schizophreniafall into three main categories.
Positive Symptoms (Psychotic Symptoms)
Positive symptoms reflect things that are present that should not be, namely:
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms, on the other hand, are characteristics that should be present but are not. These might include:
Cognitive Symptoms
These include problems with attention, concentration, and memory, such as:
A healthcare provider or mental health expert will evaluate these symptoms to help inform a diagnosis of schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder.
Spectrum of Schizophrenia Disorders
Schizophrenia is just one of several conditions that fall under the spectrum of psychotic disorders. These conditions share similar symptoms but are classified differently based on certain factors, such as the length of the psychotic symptoms and the presence of mood disorder characteristics.
Other examples of psychotic disorders include:
Schizophreniform Disorder
Inschizophreniformdisorder, a person exhibits the defining symptoms of schizophrenia, but the condition lasts less than six months. Schizophreniform disorder can develop into schizophrenia if the symptoms reach the six-month mark.
What Is Erotomania? Causes and Examples
Schizoaffective Disorder
Schizoaffective disorderhas features of schizophrenia and features of a mood disorder (eithermajor depressive disorderorbipolar disorder), including psychosis, depression, and mania. The person must experience psychosis for at least two weeks when they are not having a depressive or manic episode. Depressive or manic episode symptoms are present over half of the duration of the condition.
Delusional Disorder
The person has experienced at least one delusion for at least one month but has never met the criteria for schizophrenia. Functional impairment is due to the delusion only and not experienced outside of it.
Brief Psychotic Disorder
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
A person with schizotypal personality disorder has irrational, obsessive thought patterns and fears that interfere with their ability to form and maintain relationships.They are not disconnected from reality like someone with schizophrenia, but they can develop significant social problems and are often perceived as behaving oddly or inappropriately.
Other Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
Other schizophrenia spectrum disorders are disorders that are considered similar to schizophrenia but don’t meet the criteria for a diagnosis of schizophrenia.This category exists so healthcare providers can diagnose variations of the condition that wouldn’t otherwise qualify as schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is just one of several conditions that fall under the spectrum of psychotic disorders. Some of these conditions commonly occur alongside schizophrenia and/or share symptoms that can make diagnosis more difficult.
These can include:
Some studies have demonstrated that individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders have higher autistic characteristics than those without schizophrenia spectrum disorders, but lower autistic characteristics than individuals with autism.
A diagnosis of schizophrenia is typically made after the first episode of psychosis. Under the criteria found in the DSM-5, a person must persistently have two or more of the following symptoms (at least one being in the top three) to receive a diagnosis:
Decreased levels of functioning in the areas of work, interpersonal relationships, or self-care must also be present.
Diagnosing Schizophrenia With Other FactorsBefore a diagnosis of schizophrenia can be made, similar conditions need to be considered and ruled out. Schizophrenia can also overlap with other mental health conditions that need to be considered during a diagnosis.
Diagnosing Schizophrenia With Other Factors
Before a diagnosis of schizophrenia can be made, similar conditions need to be considered and ruled out. Schizophrenia can also overlap with other mental health conditions that need to be considered during a diagnosis.
Someone who has some symptoms of schizophrenia but doesn’t meet the criteria for a diagnosis may be experiencing a different psychotic disorder that is similar to schizophrenia.
It is common for people with one mental illness to have other mental illnesses at the same time. This is also true of schizophrenia. A person with schizophrenia may also have a depressive disorder such asmajor depression, an anxiety disorder,PTSD, or other comorbid (coexisting) conditions.
Before the DSM-5 was published in 2013, schizophrenia was officially recognized as having five distinct subtypes.The American Psychiatric Association has since decided the specific criteria for these subtypes hindered diagnosis because the subtypes were inconsistent.When the DSM-5 was published, the subtypes were removed as part of the officialdiagnosis of schizophrenia. However, some mental health professionals still use them to gain nuanced understanding of how schizophrenia can present.
Before the DSM-5 was published in 2013, schizophrenia was officially recognized as having five distinct subtypes.The American Psychiatric Association has since decided the specific criteria for these subtypes hindered diagnosis because the subtypes were inconsistent.
When the DSM-5 was published, the subtypes were removed as part of the officialdiagnosis of schizophrenia. However, some mental health professionals still use them to gain nuanced understanding of how schizophrenia can present.
Managing Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
Schizophrenia is typically treated as a team effort among the individual, their friends and family, medical professionals, mental health experts, and community supporters.
In addition toformal treatmentinvolving medication and therapies, there are ways to make living with schizophrenia more manageable.
Lifestyle practices a person with schizophrenia can adopt include:
Help Is AvailableIf you or a loved one is struggling with schizophrenia, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
Help Is Available
If you or a loved one is struggling with schizophrenia, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
Summary
Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are a category of mental health conditions where individuals experience psychosis as a primary symptom.
Besides schizophrenia, disorders that fall into this cateogry include schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, brief psychotic disorder, schizotypal personality disorder, and other disorders that are similar to schizophrenia but don’t meet the diagnostic criteria.
Schizophrenia spectrum disorders can be managed with medication, therapy, lifestyle changes, and a strong support system.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Schizophrenia.National Institute of Mental Health.Schizophrenia.Barch DM.Schizophrenia spectrum disorders. In: Biswas-Diener R, Diener E, eds.Noba textbook series: Psychology.DEF Publishers. 2021.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Schizophrenia: Public attitudes, personal needs.California Courts.CARE Act eligibility criteria.Freudenreich O.Psychotic disorders. Springer International Publishing; 2020.De Crescenzo F, Postorino V, Siracusano M, et al.Autistic symptoms in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Psychiatry. 2019;10:78. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00078American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Fifth Edition, Text Revision. American Psychiatric Association; 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787Yang Z, Abdul Rashid NA, Quek YF, et al.Montreal Cognitive Assessment as a screening instrument for cognitive impairments in schizophrenia.Schizophr Res. 2018;199:58-63. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2018.03.008Gonçalves AM, Dantas CD, Banzato CE, Oda AM.A historical account of schizophrenia proneness categories from DSM-I to DSM-5 (1952-2013).Rev Latinoam Psicopatol Fundam. 2018:798-828. doi:10.1590/1415-4714.2018v21n4p798.7National Alliance on Mental Illness.Schizophrenia support.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Schizophrenia.National Institute of Mental Health.Schizophrenia.Barch DM.Schizophrenia spectrum disorders. In: Biswas-Diener R, Diener E, eds.Noba textbook series: Psychology.DEF Publishers. 2021.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Schizophrenia: Public attitudes, personal needs.California Courts.CARE Act eligibility criteria.Freudenreich O.Psychotic disorders. Springer International Publishing; 2020.De Crescenzo F, Postorino V, Siracusano M, et al.Autistic symptoms in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Psychiatry. 2019;10:78. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00078American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Fifth Edition, Text Revision. American Psychiatric Association; 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787Yang Z, Abdul Rashid NA, Quek YF, et al.Montreal Cognitive Assessment as a screening instrument for cognitive impairments in schizophrenia.Schizophr Res. 2018;199:58-63. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2018.03.008Gonçalves AM, Dantas CD, Banzato CE, Oda AM.A historical account of schizophrenia proneness categories from DSM-I to DSM-5 (1952-2013).Rev Latinoam Psicopatol Fundam. 2018:798-828. doi:10.1590/1415-4714.2018v21n4p798.7National Alliance on Mental Illness.Schizophrenia support.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Schizophrenia.National Institute of Mental Health.Schizophrenia.Barch DM.Schizophrenia spectrum disorders. In: Biswas-Diener R, Diener E, eds.Noba textbook series: Psychology.DEF Publishers. 2021.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Schizophrenia: Public attitudes, personal needs.California Courts.CARE Act eligibility criteria.Freudenreich O.Psychotic disorders. Springer International Publishing; 2020.De Crescenzo F, Postorino V, Siracusano M, et al.Autistic symptoms in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Psychiatry. 2019;10:78. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00078American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Fifth Edition, Text Revision. American Psychiatric Association; 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787Yang Z, Abdul Rashid NA, Quek YF, et al.Montreal Cognitive Assessment as a screening instrument for cognitive impairments in schizophrenia.Schizophr Res. 2018;199:58-63. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2018.03.008Gonçalves AM, Dantas CD, Banzato CE, Oda AM.A historical account of schizophrenia proneness categories from DSM-I to DSM-5 (1952-2013).Rev Latinoam Psicopatol Fundam. 2018:798-828. doi:10.1590/1415-4714.2018v21n4p798.7National Alliance on Mental Illness.Schizophrenia support.
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Schizophrenia.
National Institute of Mental Health.Schizophrenia.
Barch DM.Schizophrenia spectrum disorders. In: Biswas-Diener R, Diener E, eds.Noba textbook series: Psychology.DEF Publishers. 2021.
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Schizophrenia: Public attitudes, personal needs.
California Courts.CARE Act eligibility criteria.
Freudenreich O.Psychotic disorders. Springer International Publishing; 2020.
De Crescenzo F, Postorino V, Siracusano M, et al.Autistic symptoms in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Psychiatry. 2019;10:78. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00078
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Fifth Edition, Text Revision. American Psychiatric Association; 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
Yang Z, Abdul Rashid NA, Quek YF, et al.Montreal Cognitive Assessment as a screening instrument for cognitive impairments in schizophrenia.Schizophr Res. 2018;199:58-63. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2018.03.008
Gonçalves AM, Dantas CD, Banzato CE, Oda AM.A historical account of schizophrenia proneness categories from DSM-I to DSM-5 (1952-2013).Rev Latinoam Psicopatol Fundam. 2018:798-828. doi:10.1590/1415-4714.2018v21n4p798.7
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Schizophrenia support.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
