The cognitive-phenomenological assessment of delusions and hallucinations at the early intervention in psychosis service stage: The results of a quality improvement project.
Early intervention in psychiatry December 1, 2022 Maria Isaacson, Cassie M Hazell, John Cape et al.
A quality improvement project reviewed health records of patients in an Early Intervention in Psychosis Service to see which cognitive-phenomenological dimensions of hallucinations and delusions staff assessed. All patients were asked about the content of their hallucinations or delusions, and most were asked about the emotional valence of that content. However, less than half of patients were asked about potential or actual harm from these symptoms, even though patients had experienced psychosis for almost two years on average. Other dimensions were assessed inconsistently. The assessment was incomplete, suggesting a need for guidelines and training to improve thoroughness, which could aid risk assessment and treatment planning.