how do you know if someone is a schizophrenic?

Answer 1

My sister is a schizophrenic. She suffers from vivid hallucinations, she hears voices, she loses time. Frequently she suffers from extreme fear and paranoia. It is a horrible condition and it has caused her torment. She was diagnosed by a physician and that is really the only way to know. There is evidence it is caused by a virus that can be acquired in childhood from used kitty litter. We had a cat from the time I was three. It is a difficult condition for both the patient and the family.

Answer 2

Symptoms: For a material part of at least one month (or less, if effectively treated) the patient has had 2 or more of:

Delusions (only one symptom is required if a delusion is bizarre, such as being abducted in a space ship from the sun)

Hallucinations (only one symptom is required if hallucinations are of at least two voices talking to one another or of a voice that keeps up a running commentary on the patient's thoughts or actions).

Speech that shows incoherence, derailment or other disorganization

Severely disorganized or catatonic behavior Any negative symptom such as flat affect, reduced speech or lack of volition.

Duration. For at least 6 continuous months the patient has shown some evidence of the disorder. At least one month must include the symptoms of frank psychosis mentioned above. During the balance of this time (either as a prodrome or residual of the illness), the patient must show either or both:

Negative symptoms as mentioned above.

In attenuated form, at least 2 of the other symptoms mentioned above (example: deteriorating personal hygiene plus an increasing suspicion that people are talking behind one's back).
Dysfunction. For much of this time, the disorder has materially impaired the patient's ability to work, study, socialize or provide self-care.

Answer 3

My brother is. And my sister. And my uncle. :-/ they hear voices in their heads and they see things that arent really there. If they say people tell them things in their head, and theyre not lying, theyre probably schizophrenic. It usually occurs in intelligent teens around 17-20

Answer 4

Voices, lost time, paranoia are all signs of schizophrenia. One of the definite signs (but doesn't happen with all schizos) is the feeling that someone is behind them mocking their actions.

Answer 5

consistently unable to follow a logical line of reasoning. Their line of thought jumps around sporadically like dream logic.

Answer 6

Do they hear voices? Do the voices talk to them, tell them to do things?

If so, I'd say they are schizo...

Answer 7

they hear voices talking to them that aren't there
can be paranoid

Answer 8

the voices are telling me not to answer this question.

Answer 9

I think that is a broad scope there
some people may simply show signs of paranoia etc ... some may be hearing disturbing voices that pose a danger to them
hard to diagnose i would imagine

Answer 10

Just ask all of them.