Psychotic Disorders

Psychotic Disorders

·        Psychosis = distortion or loss of contact with reality (eg delusions, hallucinations, thought disorder) without change of consciousness (cf Delirium)

·        See Topic: Mental State Examination, for definitions and history questions relating to psychosis

·        Diagnostic hierarchy for psychosis:

o  Organic psychoses: Delirium, dementia, other organic disorders

o  Functional psychoses: Mania, schizophrenia, depression

o  Non-psychotic disorders: anxiety disorders, abnormal illness behaviours

o  Personality disorders