How can a doctor diagnose schizophrenia?

Evaluation: The doctor must first rule out any possible medical causes of the symptoms. A psychiatric evaluation is then needed to properly diagnose. There are different types of schizophrenia. In general terms, schizophrenia is more of a thought disorder where patients can have symptoms of hallucinations, paranoia, delusions and/or disorganized thoughts.

Clinical eval and hx: Typically a dr will perform a psychiatric evaluaiton that includes current symptoms, a history of symptoms, illness, development, medical history and family history. Pattern of development and symptoms(illness ) over time is the only waty to obtain a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia : By definition, schizophrenia is about psychosis. Psychosis means the patient is getting external stimuli from the environment through one or more of his or her five senses, that does not objectively exist. In other words there are auditory,visual, olfactory, gustatory, and tactile hallucinations that can be experienced by the patient. Auditory hallucinations, however, are the most common.