Maria Derbentlis
PSYC 575
04/22/2026
Additional Considerations and Neuropsychology
Other Specified and Unspecified
● Other specified: An individual nearly meets the criteria
● Unspecified: The clinician may need more time to assess; the diagnosis is still very
unclear.
○ This may be the closest diagnosis
● NOS (not otherwise specified): Discontinued in DSM-5
● Cont:
○ Increase access to specific treatments/centers
○ Insurance coverage
○ Grants
○ “Buying time” for a more specific assessment
○ Providing direction for other providers
Adjustment disorder
● Adjustment disorder: Usually related to an individual experiencing significant distress
and some impairment following an upsetting event/experience. This diagnosis can be
given immediately following the event/experience.
● Although a PTSD criterion A may be present, other aspects of the clusters are missing.
● Diagnosis can be given immediately following the event.
○ PTSD = 1 month of symptoms
● If related to grief, when symptoms persist for more than 12 months, prolonged grief
disorder is a more accurate diagnosis.
Psychosis
● Delusions: Fixed beliefs that are not amenable to change in light of conflicting evidence.
Their content may include a variety of themes (for example, persecutory, referential,
somatic, religious, grandiose; DSM-5-TR).
● Hallucinations: Perception-like experiences that occur without an external stimulus
(DSM-5-TR).
● Disorganized thinking (for example, word salad).
● Can be the main aspect of a diagnosis or one aspect of a condition (for example,
schizophrenia vs. MDD with psychosis).
● Psychosis does not equal schizophrenia
○ Medically induced (for example, high fever, head injury, virus)
PSYC 575
04/22/2026
Additional Considerations and Neuropsychology
Other Specified and Unspecified
● Other specified: An individual nearly meets the criteria
● Unspecified: The clinician may need more time to assess; the diagnosis is still very
unclear.
○ This may be the closest diagnosis
● NOS (not otherwise specified): Discontinued in DSM-5
● Cont:
○ Increase access to specific treatments/centers
○ Insurance coverage
○ Grants
○ “Buying time” for a more specific assessment
○ Providing direction for other providers
Adjustment disorder
● Adjustment disorder: Usually related to an individual experiencing significant distress
and some impairment following an upsetting event/experience. This diagnosis can be
given immediately following the event/experience.
● Although a PTSD criterion A may be present, other aspects of the clusters are missing.
● Diagnosis can be given immediately following the event.
○ PTSD = 1 month of symptoms
● If related to grief, when symptoms persist for more than 12 months, prolonged grief
disorder is a more accurate diagnosis.
Psychosis
● Delusions: Fixed beliefs that are not amenable to change in light of conflicting evidence.
Their content may include a variety of themes (for example, persecutory, referential,
somatic, religious, grandiose; DSM-5-TR).
● Hallucinations: Perception-like experiences that occur without an external stimulus
(DSM-5-TR).
● Disorganized thinking (for example, word salad).
● Can be the main aspect of a diagnosis or one aspect of a condition (for example,
schizophrenia vs. MDD with psychosis).
● Psychosis does not equal schizophrenia
○ Medically induced (for example, high fever, head injury, virus)
