From the Guidelines
Schizophrenia diagnosis requires the presence of at least two specific symptoms, including delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior, and/or negative symptoms, for a significant period during a 1-month period, as outlined in the practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with schizophrenia by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1. The diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia involve a combination of symptoms that must be present for a significant duration. The symptoms include:
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganized speech
- Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
- Negative symptoms, such as affective flattening, paucity of thought or speech According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1, at least two of these symptoms must be present for a significant period during a 1-month period. However, if the delusions are bizarre, the hallucinations include a voice providing a running commentary on the person’s behavior or thinking, or two or more voices are conversing with each other, only one symptom is needed. The duration of symptoms may be less if the symptoms resolved with treatment, as noted in the practice parameter 1. It is essential to consider these criteria when diagnosing schizophrenia, as they help clinicians distinguish it from other psychiatric conditions with overlapping symptoms.
From the FDA Drug Label
The efficacy of aripiprazole in the treatment of schizophrenia was evaluated in five short-term (4-week and 6-week), placebo-controlled trials of acutely relapsed inpatients who predominantly met DSM-III/IV criteria for schizophrenia. Patients receiving aripiprazole tablets 15 mg/day experienced a significantly longer time to relapse over the subsequent 26 weeks compared to those receiving placebo, in a trial of patients who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia. The efficacy of aripiprazole in the treatment of schizophrenia in pediatric patients (13 to 17 years of age) was evaluated in one 6-week, placebo-controlled trial of outpatients who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia and had a PANSS score ≥70 at baseline
The diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia are based on the DSM-III/IV criteria. 2