62nd Annual Meeting

October 26 - 31, 2015

Clinical Case Conference 12 (open)

"I’m Hearing Voices": Differential Diagnoses of "Psychotic" Symptoms

Current practice guidelines on recommendations for treatment of first episode psychosis support use of antipsychotic monotherapy at low doses. However, there is little information on differentiating presentations of "psychosis" and the harm that can occur from premature prescription of these types of medications. This CCC improves clinician awareness of multiple presentations of “psychotic” symptoms that might not actually be primarily psychotic in nature, and encourages consideration of various other symptoms and developmental/trauma/cultural histories that could play important roles in case formulation and diagnoses. Participants gain a broader understanding of diagnosis and care, optimizing treatment and minimizing adverse effects from potential inappropriate use of antipsychotic medication, and become familiar with available treatment services other than pharmacotherapy.