Precedence of Diagnosis Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

As in other diagnostic groups, clients may display symptoms that are consistent with more than one psychotic diagnosis. Usually the criteria for the diagnosis of a specific disorder includes rules that indicate how the conflict should be resolved.

The table below lists the disorders that take diagnostic precedence over Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders. The most common example of this problem in the Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders group is the occurrence of symptoms of a Mood Disorder in conjunction with psychotic symptoms. Other potential conflicts occur about the precedence of organic diagnoses over nonorganic diagnoses and vice versa. This reciprocal relationship appears contradictory. However, it serves the purpose of emphasizing that the occurrence of psychotic symptoms and organic factors is not necessarily a cause-and-effect relationship. This table should be used as a reminder of those diagnoses that usually must be excluded before a specific diagnosis can be made.

Psychotic disorder Disorders taking precedence Schizophrenia Does not meet criteria for: Paranoid Type Schizoaffective Disorder, Disorganized Type Mood Disorder with psychotic features, Catatonic Type Other Schizophrenia disorders. Undifferentiated Type Not due to effects of: Residual Type a substance. or general medical condition. Schizophreniform Does not meet the criteria for: Disorder Schizoaffective Disorder, Mood Disorder with psychotic features Not due to effects of: a substance, or general medical condition. Schizoaffective Disorder Not due to effects of: a substance, or general medical condition.

43 Delusional Disorder Has never met criteria for: Schizophrenia. Not due to effects of: a substance, or general medical condition

Brief Psychotic Disorder Not better accounted for by Mood Disorder or Schizophrenia Not due to effects of a substance or general medical condition Shared Psychotic Not better accounted for by another Psychotic Disorder Disorder (Folie a Deux) Not due to effects of a substance or general medical condition Psychotic Disorder Due Does not occur exclusively during Delirium or to a General Medical Dementia Condition Not better accounted for by another mental disorder Substance-Induced Does not occur exclusively during Delirium or Psychotic Disorder Dementia Not better accounted for by non-substance-induced psychotic disorder Psychotic Disorder NOS Does not meet criteria for any other psychotic disorder Not due to effects of a substance or general medical condition Note. NOS = Not Otherwise Specified.