Schizophrenia: DSM-5 duration: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Schizophrenia: DSM-5 duration

Sample item

According to DSM-5, the overall duration of illness required for the diagnosis of schizophrenia, including prodromal and residual phases, is at least:

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. 6 months

DSM-5 requires continuous signs of disturbance for at least 6 months, including at least 1 month of active-phase symptoms. ICD-10 requires symptoms for only about 1 month.

Option by option

  • A. 1 month

    One month is the ICD-10 duration and the minimum for active-phase symptoms in DSM-5.

  • B. 1 year

    One year is not a diagnostic requirement for schizophrenia.

  • C. 2 weeks

    Two weeks is the duration used for major depression and schizoaffective psychosis periods.

  • D. 6 months (correct)

    Correct. Six months of overall illness with at least one month of active symptoms.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is D, 6 months. DSM-5 requires continuous signs of disturbance for at least 6 months, including at least 1 month of active-phase symptoms.

Why is "1 month" not the answer?

One month is the ICD-10 duration and the minimum for active-phase symptoms in DSM-5.

Why is "1 year" not the answer?

One year is not a diagnostic requirement for schizophrenia.

Why is "2 weeks" not the answer?

Two weeks is the duration used for major depression and schizoaffective psychosis periods.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Schizophrenia: DSM-5 duration in Psychiatry. ICD-10 requires symptoms for only about 1 month.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Schizophrenia: DSM-5 duration?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.