Absence of prominent AVH, disorganized speech, and negative symptoms describes which disorder?

• A. Schizophrenia
• B. Schizophreniform
• C. Delusional disorder
• D. Depressive/Bipolar with Psych Features

Answer: (C)

The key idea is distinguishing delusional disorder from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders by what is not present as well as what is. Delusional disorder is defined by one or more delusions lasting at least a month, with overall functioning not markedly impaired outside the delusional belief, and crucially, without prominent hallucinations, disorganized thinking, or negative symptoms.

So when there is an absence of prominent auditory/visual hallucinations and there is no disorganized speech or significant negative symptoms, the presentation is most consistent with delusional disorder. In contrast, schizophrenia or schizophreniform typically involve hallucinations and/or disorganized thinking and negative symptoms, which are not central features here.