Misdiagnosis, or other disorders that may look like schizophrenia

It is crucial to realize that schizophrenia is not the cause of all psychotic symptoms. Psychosis is a general term used to describe psychotic symptoms whereas schizophrenia is a type of psychosis. In addition to schizophrenia, psychotic symptoms may result from a variety of causes, including brain trauma, strokes, tumors, infections, or the use of illegal drugs. Misdiagnosis is common in schizophrenia for precisely this reason. Mental health professionals may require several months (or years) in order to determine that the cause of psychotic symptoms is schizophrenia and not some other condition.

Indeed, assessing a patient with psychotic symptoms can be a challenging task. Clinicians and researchers typically go through a process of "ruling out" other disorders before confirming a diagnosis. In addition to brain trauma, there are other mental disorders in which symptoms appear very similar to those of schizophrenia. Sometimes there are more appropriate diagnoses for individuals with psychotic symptoms.

For example, some patients with psychotic symptoms also have depression. When this is the case, a clinician must consider a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. Alternatively, the use of some illegal drugs may mimic psychotic symptoms. In order to determine that the symptoms are truly those of schizophrenia, it is important to determine that the patient has not been using substances that can cause these behaviors. Some other disorders in which psychotic symptoms are prominent follow.

Schizoaffective Disorder. Schizoaffective disorder is characterized by both schizophrenia and severe mood disorder symptoms. Someone with schizoaffective disorder meets diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia and at the same time experiences severe moods and marked changes of mood.

Schizophreniform Disorder. In order to receive a diagnosis of schizophrenia, one must exhibit psychotic symptoms for at least six months. Alternatively, a diagnosis of schizophreni-form disorder is used when patients have only experienced these symptoms between one and six months. Presumably, every schizophrenia patient was a candidate for a diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder, as it is basically the same thing as schizophrenia, only for a shorter period of time.

Delusional Disorder. People with delusional disorder endorse beliefs that are have no grounding in reality. Contrary to schizophrenia, however, delusional disorder is not marked by extreme behavior change or disorganized behavior. Patients with delusional disorder can function normally, except for their behaviors brought about by their delusions. An example of a common form of delusion seen in delusional disorder is erotomania.

Patients with erotomania believe that they are involved in a love affair with someone, even if this is not true. It is not uncommon for people with erotomania to believe they are having a relationship with a movie star or a famous politician.