The health care provider will do a physical examination and take a medical history. Blood may be drawn for testing.

Medical history questions may include the following:

• Do you hear a voice?
• Do you see something?
• Do you have a sensation of feeling something or being touched?
• How long have you been having hallucinations?
• When did the hallucinations first appear?
• Do the hallucinations occur just before or after sleep?
• Has there been a recent death or other emotional event?
• What medications are you taking?
• Do you use alcohol regularly?
• Do you use illegal drugs?
• Are the hallucinations related to a traumatic event?
• Is there agitation?
• Is there confusion?
• Is there a fever?
• Is there a headache?
• Is there vomiting?

Addington D, Bouchard RH, Goldberg J, Honer B, Malla A, Norman R, Tempier R. Clinical practice guidelines: treatment of schizophrenia. Can J Psychiatry. 2005;50:7S-57S.

International Early Psychosis Association Writing Group. International clinical practice guidelines for early psychosis. Br J Psychiatry. 2005;48:s120-s124.