DSM Notes

DSM NOTES
Delusional disorder

  • Presence of one or more delusions with a duration of 1 month or longer

  • Criterion A for schizophrenia has never been met

    • Hallucinations if present are not prominent and are related to a delusional theme

  • Apart from the impact of the delusions or its ramifications, functioning is not markedly impaired and behavior is not obviously bizarre or odd

  • If manic or depressive episodes have occurred, these have been brief relative to the duration of the delusional periods

  • The disturbance is not attributable to the psychological effects of a substance or another medical condition and is not better explained by another mental disorder, such as body dysmorphic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder

Eromanic type: this subtype applies when the central theme of the delusion is that another person is in love with this individual

Grandiose type: This subtype applies when the central theme of

the delusion is the conviction of having some great (but

unrecognized) talent or insight or having made some important

Discovery.

Jealous type: This subtype applies when the central theme of

the individual’s delusion is that his or her spouse or lover is

Unfaithful.

Persecutory type: This subtype applies when the central theme

of the delusion involves the individual’s belief that he or she is

being conspired against, cheated, spied on, followed, poisoned

or drugged, maliciously maligned, harassed, or obstructed in the

pursuit of long-term goals.

Somatic type: This subtype applies when the central theme of

the delusion involves bodily functions or sensations.

Mixed type: This subtype applies when no one delusional theme

Predominates.

Unspecified type: This subtype applies when the dominant

delusional belief cannot be clearly determined or is not described

in the specific types (e.g., referential delusions without a

prominent persecutory or grandiose component).


  • The following course specifiers are only to be used after a 1-year

duration of the disorder:

  • First episode, currently in acute episode: First manifestation of the disorder meeting the defining diagnostic symptom and time criteria. An acute episode is a time period in which the symptom criteria are fulfilled.

  • First episode, currently in partial remission: Partial remission

is a time period during which an improvement after a previous

episode is maintained and in which the defining criteria of the

disorder are only partially fulfilled.

  • First episode, currently in full remission: Full remission is a

period of time after a previous episode during which no disorderspecific symptoms are present.

  • Multiple episodes, currently in acute episode

  • Multiple episodes, currently in partial remission

  • Multiple episodes, currently in full remission

  • Continuous: Symptoms fulfilling the diagnostic symptom criteria

of the disorder are remaining for the majority of the illness course, with subthreshold symptom periods being very brief relative to the overall course.

Brief Psychotic Disorder

  • Presence of one (or more) of the following symptoms. At least one of these must be (1), (2), or (3):

    • 1. Delusions.

    • 2. Hallucinations.

    • 3. Disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or

    • incoherence).

    • 4. Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior.

  • Duration of an episode of the disturbance is at least 1 day but less than 1 month, with eventual full return to premorbid level of functioning.

  • The disturbance is not better explained by major depressive or bipolar disorder with psychotic features or another psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia or catatonia, and is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition.

Schizophreniform Disorder

  • Two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a 1-month period (or less if successfully treated). At least one of these must be (1), (2), or (3):

    • 1. Delusions.

    • 2. Hallucinations.

    • 3. Disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence).

    • 4. Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior.

    • 5. Negative symptoms (i.e., diminished emotional expression or avolition).

  • An episode of the disorder lasts at least 1 month but less than 6 months. When the diagnosis must be made without waiting for recovery, it should be qualified as “provisional.”

  • Schizoaffective disorder and depressive or bipolar disorder with psychotic features have been ruled out because either 1) no major depressive or manic episodes have occurred concurrently with the active-phase symptoms, or 2) if mood episodes have occurred during active-phase symptoms, they have been present for a minority of the total duration of the active and residual periods of the illness.

  • The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition.

Schizophrenia

  • Two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a 1-month period (or less if successfully treated). At least one of these must be (1), (2), or (3):

    • 1. Delusions.

    • 2. Hallucinations.

    • 3. Disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence).

    • 4. Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior.

    • 5. Negative symptoms (i.e., diminished emotional expression or avolition).

  • For a significant portion of the time since the onset of the disturbance, level of functioning in one or more major areas, such as work, interpersonal relations, or self-care, is markedly below the level achieved prior to the onset (or when the onset is in childhood or adolescence, there is failure to achieve expected level of interpersonal, academic, or occupational functioning). 

  • Continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least 6 months. This 6-month period must include at least 1 month of symptoms (or less if successfully treated) that meet Criterion A (i.e., activephase symptoms) and may include periods of prodromal or residual symptoms. During these prodromal or residual periods, the signs of the disturbance may be manifested by only negative symptoms or by two or more symptoms listed in Criterion A present in an attenuated form (e.g., odd beliefs, unusual perceptual experiences).

  • Schizoaffective disorder and depressive or bipolar disorder with psychotic features have been ruled out because either 1) no major depressive or manic episodes have occurred concurrently with the active-phase symptoms, or 2) if mood episodes have occurred during active-phase symptoms, they have been present for a minority of the total duration of the active and residual periods of the illness.

  • The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition.

  • If there is a history of autism spectrum disorder or a communication disorder of childhood onset, the additional diagnosis of schizophrenia is made only if prominent delusions or hallucinations, in addition to the other required symptoms of schizophrenia, are also present for at least 1 month (or less if successfully treated).

Schizoaffective disorder

  • An uninterrupted period of illness during which there is a major mood episode (major depressive or manic) concurrent with Criterion A of schizophrenia.

    • Note: The major depressive episode must include Criterion A1: Depressed mood.

  •  Delusions or hallucinations for 2 or more weeks in the absence of a major mood episode (depressive or manic) during the lifetime duration of the illness.

  • Symptoms that meet criteria for a major mood episode are present for the majority of the total duration of the active and residual portions of the illness.

  • The disturbance is not attributable to the effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition.

  • F25.0 Bipolar type: This subtype applies if a manic episode is part of the presentation. Major depressive episodes may also occur.

  • F25.1 Depressive type: This subtype applies if only major depressive episodes are part of the presentation.

Substance/Medication-induced psychotic disorder

  • Presence of one or both of the following symptoms:

    • 1. Delusions.

    • 2. Hallucinations.

  • There is evidence from the history, physical examination, or laboratory findings of both (1) and (2):

    • 1. The symptoms in Criterion A developed during or soon after substance intoxication or withdrawal or after exposure to or withdrawal from a medication.

    • 2. The involved substance/medication is capable of producing the symptoms in Criterion A.

  • The disturbance is not better explained by a psychotic disorder

that is not substance/medication-induced. Such evidence of an independent psychotic disorder could include the following:

  • The symptoms preceded the onset of the substance/medication use; the symptoms persist for a substantial period of time (e.g., about 1 month) after the cessation of acute withdrawal or severe intoxication; or there is other evidence of an independent nonsubstance/medication-induced psychotic disorder (e.g., a history of recurrent non-substance/medication-related episodes).

  • The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of a delirium.

  • The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Psychotic Disorder due to another medical condition

  • Prominent hallucinations or delusions.

  • There is evidence from the history, physical examination, or laboratory findings that the disturbance is the direct pathophysiological consequence of another medical condition.

  •  The disturbance is not better explained by another mental disorder.

  • The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of a delirium.

  • The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Catatonia

  • A. The clinical picture is dominated by three (or more) of the following symptoms:

    • 1. Stupor (i.e., no psychomotor activity; not actively relating to environment).

    • 2. Catalepsy (i.e., passive induction of a posture held against gravity).

    • 3. Waxy flexibility (i.e., slight, even resistance to positioning by examiner).

    • 4. Mutism (i.e., no, or very little, verbal response [exclude if known aphasia]).

    • 5. Negativism (i.e., opposition or no response to instructions or external stimuli).

    • 6. Posturing (i.e., spontaneous and active maintenance of a posture against gravity).

    • 7. Mannerism (i.e., odd, circumstantial caricature of normal actions).

    • 8. Stereotypy (i.e., repetitive, abnormally frequent, non-goaldirected movements).

    • 9. Agitation, not influenced by external stimuli.

    • 10. Grimacing.

    • 11. Echolalia (i.e., mimicking another’s speech).

    • 12. Echopraxia (i.e., mimicking another’s movements).

Catatonic Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition

  • A. The clinical picture is dominated by three (or more) of the following symptoms:

    • 1. Stupor (i.e., no psychomotor activity; not actively relating to environment).

    • 2. Catalepsy (i.e., passive induction of a posture held against gravity).

    • 3. Waxy flexibility (i.e., slight, even resistance to positioning by examiner).

    • 4. Mutism (i.e., no, or very little, verbal response [exclude if known aphasia]).

    • 5. Negativism (i.e., opposition or no response to instructions or external stimuli).

    • 6. Posturing (i.e., spontaneous and active maintenance of a posture against gravity).

    • 7. Mannerism (i.e., odd, circumstantial caricature of normal actions).

    • 8. Stereotypy (i.e., repetitive, abnormally frequent, non-goaldirected movements).

    • 9. Agitation, not influenced by external stimuli.

    • 10. Grimacing.

    • 11. Echolalia (i.e., mimicking another’s speech).

    • 12. Echopraxia (i.e., mimicking another’s movements).

  • There is evidence from the history, physical examination, or laboratory findings that the disturbance is the direct pathophysiological consequence of another medical condition.

  •  The disturbance is not better explained by another mental disorder (e.g., a manic episode).

  • The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of a delirium.

  • E. The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Unspecified catatonia

This category applies to presentations in which symptoms characteristic of

catatonia cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning but either the nature of the underlying mental disorder or other medical condition is unclear, full criteria for catatonia are not met, or there is insufficient information to make a more specific diagnosis (e.g., in emergency room settings).


Other specified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder

This category applies to presentations in which symptoms characteristic of a

schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder that cause clinically

significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important area of functioning predominate but do not meet the full criteria for any of the disorders in the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders diagnostic class. The other specified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder category is used in situations in which the clinician chooses to communicate the specific reason that the presentation does not meet the criteria for any specific schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder. This is done by recording “other specified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder” followed by the specific reason (e.g., “persistent auditory hallucinations”).


Unspecified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder

This category applies to presentations in which symptoms characteristic of a

schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder that cause clinically

significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning predominate but do not meet the full criteria for any of the disorders in the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders diagnostic class. The unspecified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder category is used in situations in which the clinician chooses not to specify the reason that the criteria are not met for a specific schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder and includes presentations in which there is insufficient information to make a more specific diagnosis (e.g., in emergency room settings).