Question

A person who reports hearing voices at night that repeat his name. He has a very short attention span and makes up words that have no meaning, so it is difficult to have a conversation with him. How long would these symptoms have to be present before the diagnosis of schizophrenia would be made

Answer 1

Schizophrenia is diagnosed by the presence of symptoms or their precursors for a period of six months. Two or more symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, and grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior, must be significant and last for at least one month.