Diagnostic schedules
The diagnostic schedules are manuals which set out the criteria for each different diagnosis, like a checklist for doctors. The two schedules that are used for mental health purposes are the DSM IV (American) and the most commonly referred to diagnostic schedule, and the ICD10 (European based).
Each type of psychiatric illness or diorder will have an outline of eligibility criteria that will have to be fulfilled for a specific diagnosis to be given by a doctor or psychiatrist. An example of criteria considered for a diagnosis of schizophrenia include:
DSM states that a diagnosis of schizophrenia should only be made when the following criteria have been fulfilled:
- Symptoms of the illness have been present for at least six months.
- There has been some deterioration of functioning from previous levels in areas such as work skills, social relations and self-care.
- The disease symptoms do not suggest organic mental disorders.
- The disease symptoms do not suggest manic-depressive illness.
- Either a, b or c must be present
a. Two of the following: delusions, hallucinations, disorganised speech (e.g. frequent loose associations or incoherence) grossly disorganised or catatonic behaviour, negative symptoms (e.g. emotional flattening, severe apathy)
b. Bizarre delusions which other people in the individual's subculture regard as totally implausible.
c. Prominent auditory hallucination of voices keeping up a running commentary on the person's behaviour
