[Decline in the diagnosis of schizophrenia in the last decades]

Important declines in the diagnosis of schizophrenia have been demonstrated in different countries and continents over the past few decades. Is still not clear if this findings reflects a true decrease in the incidence or is simply an artefact. The administrative rates are influenced by factors such as changes in the illness behavior of the patients, changes in diagnostic habits, administrative inaccuracies, changes in the organisation and delivery of psychiatric services, or changes the underlying pupulation structure.