Which statement indicates the symptom is not attributable to a substance or medical condition?

Which statement indicates the symptom is not attributable to a substance or medical condition?

• A. Insomnia or hypersomnia
• B. Significant weight change
• C. Fatigue
• D. Not attributable to a substance or medical condition

Answer: (D)

In diagnosing a primary psychotic disorder, clinicians must ensure that the symptoms are not due to a substance or another medical condition. This exclusion helps rule out substance-induced psychosis or medical illnesses as the cause of the symptoms. The statement that a symptom is not attributable to a substance or medical condition directly captures this requirement. It signals that, after evaluation, there’s no plausible medical or substance-related explanation for the symptom, which supports a primary psychotic disorder diagnosis. Insomnia, weight changes, and fatigue are common and nonspecific—they can arise from many medical issues or from substances. Therefore, while these symptoms may appear, they don’t by themselves establish that there’s no medical or substance cause.

In diagnosing a primary psychotic disorder, clinicians must ensure that the symptoms are not due to a substance or another medical condition. This exclusion helps rule out substance-induced psychosis or medical illnesses as the cause of the symptoms.

The statement that a symptom is not attributable to a substance or medical condition directly captures this requirement. It signals that, after evaluation, there’s no plausible medical or substance-related explanation for the symptom, which supports a primary psychotic disorder diagnosis.

Insomnia, weight changes, and fatigue are common and nonspecific—they can arise from many medical issues or from substances. Therefore, while these symptoms may appear, they don’t by themselves establish that there’s no medical or substance cause.