Positive symptoms in primary psychotic disorders

Description

Positive symptoms in primary psychotic disorders include persistent delusions, persistent hallucinations (most commonly verbal auditory hallucinations), disorganised thinking (formal thought disorder such as loose associations, thought derailment, or incoherence), grossly disorganised behaviour (behaviour that appears bizarre, purposeless and not goal-directed) and experiences of passivity and control (the experience that one's feelings, impulses, or thoughts are under the control of an external force). The rating should be made based on the severity of positive symptoms during the past week.

Coding note

These categories should never be used in primary coding. The codes are provided for use as supplementary or additional codes when it is desired to identify the presence of these symptoms in primary psychotic disorders.

Exclusions from above levels

• QE62 – Uncomplicated bereavement
• QE84 – Acute stress reaction