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“How do I know if I have schizophrenia?”, a young woman asked me after a
public lecture.
Here’s what I said:
As a practicing psychiatrist, I think it is more important that you not
focus on a diagnosis but, instead, focus on two things.
First, what are your hopes and dreams? What do you want to have more of
in your life? Is it a stable and trusting relationship? The ability to stay in
school or work productively? Feel pleasure in daily living? Live a life of
dignity? or …(you can fill in what you seek)?
Second, what symptoms or problems in functioning (not a diagnosis, but
often incorrectly considered as one) are you encountering that interfere
with your achieving your goals? These are the barriers to your success.
They are what you, with the help of a mental health professional and
supportive friends and family, can concentrate on and overcome.
Posted on LinkedIn
There were >260,000 views in its first week on-line.
*Originally published in the HuffPost, when I was their medical editor for mental health.
My opinion, as expressed above, has not changed.
Lloyd Sederer, MD, former MH Commissioner for NYC; former CMO for the NYS
Office of Mental Health; and former CMO/EVP of McLean Hospital.
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