2. Diagnostic criteria of schizophrenia in DSM-5
The six criteria (A–F) for the diagnosis of schizophrenia in
DSM-IV will be retained with modest changes proposed in criteria
A and F (Table 1). No changes are made in criteria B–E, although
modifications in the definitions of schizoaffective disorder (see
Malaspina et al., this issue) and major mood disorders (Fawcett,
2013; Maj, 2013) will affect their boundaries with schizophrenia
(criterion D). Significant mood symptoms will now have to be
present for the majority of the duration of the psychotic illness in
order for schizoaffective disorder to be diagnosed instead of schizophrenia
(Carpenter and Tandon, 2013). The rationale for changes
made in criteria A (characteristic symptoms) and F (clarification of
boundary with developmental disorders) is summarized below.