Diagnostic criteria are agreed rules for identifying a condition consistently. For schizophrenia, they describe characteristic symptoms, their duration, changes in functioning and the exclusion of other explanations. Hallucinations, delusions and disorganised speech are important features…Continue Reading
A psychiatric assessment is a structured conversation and examination aimed at understanding mental health difficulties. For suspected psychosis, it explores perceptions, beliefs, mood, thinking, sleep and changes in behaviour. The clinician asks when experiences began…Continue Reading
Medical investigations help identify conditions that can cause or worsen psychotic symptoms and establish a baseline for treatment. The choice depends on the history and examination. Clinicians may request blood tests, a physical examination or…Continue Reading
Differential diagnosis is the process of comparing plausible explanations for a person’s symptoms. Psychosis can occur in schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, severe depression and substance-related conditions. Neurological illness, delirium and some other medical disorders…Continue Reading
Diagnostic uncertainty means that available information does not yet support a confident or specific diagnosis. It is common early in psychosis because several conditions initially look similar. The relationship between mood and psychosis may become…Continue Reading