Psychomotor symptoms in primary psychotic disorders

Description

Psychomotor symptoms in primary psychotic disorders include psychomotor agitation or excessive motor activity, usually manifested by purposeless behaviours such as fidgeting, shifting, fiddling, inability to sit or stand still, wringing of the hands, psychomotor retardation, or a visible generalised slowing of movements and speech, and catatonic symptoms such as excitement, posturing, waxy flexibility, negativism, mutism, or stupor. The rating should be made based on the severity of psychomotor 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