If you believe suspect there are psychotic symptoms, some of the following questions are helpful to understand the presentation and assess risk:
Thought disorder
• Have you ever experienced any interference with your thoughts? (Thought interference)
• Are there any thoughts in your mind that do not belong to you? (Thought insertion)
• Are thoughts ever taken out of your mind somehow? (Thought withdrawl)
• Are your thoughts shared with or available to others? (Thought broadcast)
Delusional beliefs
• Is any force or power other than yourself trying to take control over you? (Exclude religious beliefs and following commands of voices).
• Have you ever suddenly realised that things hold a special meaning for you? (Delusional perception- i.e. a link which is not significant or understandable to you)
• Is any person, group of people or any force trying to harm you? (Paranoid delusion)
• Is there any reference to you in the newspaper, radio or television? (Ideas of reference)
• Are people around you not what they seem to be? Is anyone keeping special watch on you? (misidentification/misinterpretation)
Hallucinations
• Do you hear voices when there is nobody there?
• Remember auditory hallucinations can be non-verbal e.g. tapping or clicking, whispering, or heard voices.
• Do you ever see visions or things that other people can’t see?
• Have you ever noticed any peculiar smell/taste/ unusual feelings in your body?
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