Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Schizophrenia laboratory findings
Introduction
Overview
Overview
An initial assessment includes a comprehensive history and physical examination by a physician. Although there are no biological tests which confirm schizophrenia, tests are carried out to exclude medical illnesses which may rarely present with psychotic schizophrenia-like symptoms. These include blood tests measuring TSH to exclude hypo- or hyperthyroidism, basic electrolytes and serum calcium to rule out a metabolic disturbance, full blood count including ESR to rule out a systemic infection or chronic disease, and serology to exclude syphilis or HIV infection. Drugs of abuse should also be tested for with a urine drug screen, and further diagnostic workup is detailed here.
Laboratory Findings
Laboratory Findings
- An initial assessment includes a comprehensive history and physical examination by a physician.[1]
- Although there are no biological tests which confirm schizophrenia, tests are carried out to exclude medical illnesses which may rarely present with psychotic schizophrenia-like symptoms.[2]
- These include blood tests measuring TSH to exclude hypo- or hyperthyroidism, basic electrolytes and serum calcium to rule out a metabolic disturbance, full blood count including ESR to rule out a systemic infection or chronic disease, and serology to exclude syphilis or HIV infection.
- Drugs of abuse should also be tested for with a urine drug screen, and further diagnostic workup is detailed here.[3]
- Investigations are not generally repeated for relapse unless there is a specific medical indication.[4]
- These may include serum blood sugar level if olanzapine has previously been prescribed, liver function tests if chlorpromazine or CPK to exclude neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
- Assessment and treatment are usually done on an outpatient basis; admission to an inpatient facility is considered if there is a risk to self or others.
References
References
- ↑ Dougall N, Maayan N, Soares-Weiser K, McDermott LM, McIntosh A (2015). “Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for schizophrenia”. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (8): CD006081. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006081.pub2. PMID 26289586.
- ↑ Tandon R, Keshavan MS, Nasrallah HA (2008). “Schizophrenia, “Just the Facts”: what we know in 2008 part 1: overview”. Schizophr Res. 100 (1–3): 4–19. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2008.01.022. PMID 18291627.
- ↑ Gorczynski P, Faulkner G (2010). “Exercise therapy for schizophrenia”. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (5): CD004412. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004412.pub2. PMC 4164954. PMID 20464730.
- ↑ Leucht S, Tardy M, Komossa K, Heres S, Kissling W, Salanti G; et al. (2012). “Antipsychotic drugs versus placebo for relapse prevention in schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis”. Lancet. 379 (9831): 2063–71. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60239-6. PMID 22560607. Review in: Evid Based Ment Health. 2012 Nov;15(4):92
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vindhya BellamKonda, M.B.B.S [2], Irfan Dotani