Which diagnosis is used when prominent psychotic symptoms are due to another medical condition?

• A. Psychotic Disorder due to Another Medical Condition
• B. Direct Pathophysiological Consequence
• C. Catatonic Disorder due to Another Medical Condition
• D. Unspecified Schizophrenia Spectrum & Other Psychotic Disorder

Answer: (A)

When psychotic symptoms are directly caused by a medical condition, the appropriate label is a psychotic disorder due to another medical condition. This category signals that the psychosis is not arising from a primary psychiatric illness, but is a secondary effect of an identifiable medical issue (for example, autoimmune encephalitis, thyroid crisis, brain tumor, or metabolic disturbances). Treating the underlying medical condition is essential alongside managing the psychotic symptoms.

The other possibilities don’t fit as well. A catatonic disorder due to another medical condition would be used specifically when prominent catatonia is the main feature caused by a medical condition, not general psychosis. An unspecified schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorder is reserved for cases where the psychosis resembles a primary psychotic disorder but there isn’t a clearly identified medical cause, or information is insufficient. And a term like direct pathophysiological consequence isn’t a diagnostic label used in this context.