Affective disorders and psychosis in youth.

The significance of psychosis has yet to be fully understood and research is complicated because psychosis is often a state rather than trait occurrence. In youth, psychoticlike phenomena are common. Rates of lifetime psychotic symptoms are higher than rates of psychosis during a current episode of mania or depression, at least in youth. Rates vary widely between studies. Hallucinations are also more common than delusions in youth. Psychotic phenomena can be mood congruent or incongruent. A good mental status examination requires close questioning. There are several interviews that structure how questions are asked, and rating scales that help anchor severity.