Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder that has a profound effect on the individuals affected, their caregivers, and society.1,2 Individuals present with diverse positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms.3
This image depicts the current clinical diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia in the two principal classification systems: ICD-114 and DSM-5/DSM-5-TR5,6. Both require at least two characteristic symptoms present for a minimum of one month, with at least one being a core symptom. Under ICD-11, the qualifying core symptoms are persistent delusions, persistent hallucinations, disorganised thinking, and experiences of influence, passivity or control4. Negative symptoms, grossly disorganised behaviour and psychomotor disturbances may also contribute4. DSM-5 requires at least one of delusions, hallucinations or disorganised speech, alongside grossly disorganised/catatonic behaviour or negative symptoms5,6.
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Continuous maintenance therapy is associated with a lower risk of relapse than intermittent treatment, supporting ongoing treatment strategies in schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders.
Treatment response tends to be higher during a first episode than during subsequent episodes, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and effective management.
Negative symptoms are a core feature of schizophrenia and can have a profound impact on functioning, social relationships, and quality of life.