Which symptom is NOT among the 2+ core symptoms used for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders during a 1-month period?

• A. Elevated mood
• B. Hallucinations
• C. Disorganized speech
• D. Delusions

Answer: (D)

In schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, you diagnose based on at least two symptoms that are present most of the time during a one-month period, and at least one of those symptoms must be a psychotic feature such as delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech. The five symptom domains are delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior, and negative symptoms (like reduced motivation or flat affect). Elevated mood is not one of these core psychotic symptoms; it’s a mood symptom. Mood symptoms can occur in other conditions or alongside psychotic features in schizoaffective or mood disorders with psychotic features, but they don’t count toward the two or more core psychotic symptoms needed for schizophrenia-spectrum criteria. So elevated mood is the symptom that does not belong among the 2+ core psychotic symptoms, while delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech are.