Question

Wendy is in her mid twenties and has become less and less able to perform her work at a local bank. She complains that her thoughts are unconnected and uncontrollable. She hears things that other people do not hear. She looks confused.

What information would you need to diagnose this client?

For each diagnosis, indicate the questions you would ask and the information you would gather to determine that the diagnosis was correct.

Psychotic Disorder Information you need to choose this diagnosis

Schizoaffective Disorder Information you need to choose this diagnosis

Schizophrenia Information you need to choose this diagnosis

what question am I suppose to ask Wendy or information must I need in order to diagnose her correctly.

Answer 1

Psychotic disorder - Information on the medical and psychiatric history of the person is needed to understand whether the symptoms are a result of other illnesses or not.

Other questions to ask are -

Do you consume any drugs?

Do you find symptoms such as delusions, disconnected feel, hallucinations?

Psychotic disorder has few types. If psychotic disorder is confirmed, we need to understand which type of psychotic disorder she has. Wendy may have schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and further diagnosis is required to conclude on the disorder.

Schizophrenia - Do you feel depressed/maniac all the time?

Psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations are persistent?

Do you feel symptom-free sometimes?

Answers to the above questions, gives information which can enable one to conclude on the disorder. In schizophrenia the person experiences psychotic symptoms most of the time, while mood symptoms such as depression/mania are episodic. Also the person is never symptom-free.

Schizoaffective disorder -

Do you feel depressed/maniac all the time?

Psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations are persistent?

Do you feel symptom-free sometimes?

Answers to the above questions, gives information which can enable one to conclude on the disorder. In schizoaffective disorder, mood symptoms such as depression/mania is more compared to the psychotic symptoms. Also the psychotic symptoms are not seen continously in the person. The person can be symptom-free at times.