Am I Experiencing Psychosis?

A symptom checklist to help clients reflect on experiences of psychosis and consider whether further psychological assessment may be helpful.

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Professional version

Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.

Client version

Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.

Overview

Psychosis is a broad term used to describe experiences such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganised thinking, and changes in emotional expression. While these symptoms may occur in a range of mental health conditions — including schizophrenia and brief psychotic episodes — they can also appear in the general population. This symptom checklist draws on DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria to help clients and clinicians consider whether a person's symptoms are consistent with experience of psychosis. It is not intended to provide a diagnosis or assess severity, but it can support early discussions about whether further evaluation is warranted.

Why Use This Resource?

Experiences associated with psychosis can be difficult to talk about and are often misunderstood. This resource:

  • Normalizes common psychotic-like experiences such as hearing voices.
  • Supports early identification of symptoms including hallucinations, delusions, and disorganised thinking.
  • Helps clinicians open discussions about psychotic symptoms in a safe and structured way.
  • Encourages appropriate referral and assessment when necessary.

Key Benefits

Clarity

Offers a straightforward and accessible symptom checklist.

Engaging

Encourages therapeutic conversations and reflective exploration.

Supportive

Complements, but does not replace, formal clinical assessment.

Who is this for?

Psychosis

For individuals experiencing hallucinations, delusions, or disorganized thinking.

Integrating it into your practice

01

Introduce

Gently introduce the possibility of psychosis using the suggested therapeutic prompt.

02

Explore

Work through the checklist with the client, noting frequency and impact of symptoms.

03

Review

Discuss which symptoms may indicate concern and how they affect daily functioning.

04

Plan

Use insights to guide further assessment, formulation, or referral to specialist services.

Theoretical Background & Therapist Guidance

According to the DSM-5, psychotic disorders are characterized by symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganised speech, grossly disorganised or catatonic behavior, and negative symptoms (e.g. diminished emotional expression or motivation). For schizophrenia, symptoms must be present for at least one month, with functional decline lasting at least six months.

ICD-11 similarly identifies persistent delusions, hallucinations, disorganised thinking, and disturbances of control or passivity as core symptoms. These may be accompanied by negative symptoms or psychomotor disturbances such as catatonia.

This symptom checklist is informed by both DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria. It is not intended to provide a formal diagnosis or assess severity but may support early recognition and therapeutic exploration. Clinicians can use it to validate a client’s experiences and facilitate conversations that may lead to further assessment.

What's inside

  • A 7-item symptom checklist reflecting key features of psychosis.
  • A therapist prompt to introduce the tool sensitively in session.
  • Guidance to help clients interpret their responses and seek further support if needed.
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FAQs

No, it is a symptom checklist designed to indicate whether further assessment may be useful. Diagnosis should only be made by qualified professionals using validated tools.
Use this as an opportunity to validate their experience and consider discussing formal assessment or specialist referral.
Yes, some people experience hallucinations or unusual beliefs without meeting the criteria for a disorder. Functional impact and symptom persistence are important factors.

How This Resource Improves Clinical Outcomes

This resource supports clinical work by:

  • Encouraging open discussion of potentially distressing experiences.
  • Reducing stigma and fear around psychotic symptoms.
  • Supporting early identification and referral to appropriate services.
  • Helping clinicians initiate formulation of unusual experiences with clarity and care.

References And Further Reading

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
  • Beavan, V., Read, J., & Cartwright, C. (2011). The prevalence of voice-hearers in the general population: a literature review. Journal of Mental Health, 20(3), 281–292.
  • Kessler, R. C., Chiu, W. T., Demler, O., & Walters, E. E. (2005). Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of 12-month DSM-IV disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 617–627.
  • McGrath, J. J., et al. (2015). Psychotic experiences in the general population: A cross-national analysis based on 31,261 respondents from 18 countries. JAMA Psychiatry, 72(7), 697–705.
  • Stansfeld, S., Clark, C., Bebbington, P., King, M., Jenkins, R., & Hinchliffe, S. (2016). In: McManus, S., Bebbington, P., Jenkins, R., & Brugha, T. (Eds.), Mental health and wellbeing in England: Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014. Leeds: NHS Digital.
  • World Health Organization. (2019). ICD-11: International classification of diseases (11th revision). Retrieved from: https://icd.who.int/