Schizophrenia

Key points

• Schizophrenia: ≥ 1 month of core symptoms (DSM/ICD) — delusions, hallucinations (typically auditory 3rd person/running commentary), disorganised speech/behaviour, negative symptoms.
• First-rank symptoms (Schneider): thought insertion/withdrawal/broadcast · passivity · delusional perception · third-person/commentary auditory hallucinations.
• Negative symptoms: flattened affect, alogia, avolition, asociality, anhedonia — poor prognostic indicator.
• Good prognostic factors: acute onset, older age, female, married, affective symptoms, good premorbid function.
• Management: antipsychotic + CBT + family intervention; treatment-resistant → clozapine.

Decision points in this pathway

• Negative symptoms prominent?

The full step-by-step algorithm, including what to do at each branch, opens in the app for approved members.