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Presentation comparison
EmergencyCovers aggressive or violent behaviour, homicidal ideation, and medical or psychiatric precipitants.
2 of 8 diagnoses compared
| CriteriaComparison detail | Acute psychosisEmergency |
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Aggression is often fear- or belief-driven rather than predatory.
Clinical reference — not validated decision support. Review before use.
| ManiaEmergencyNot selected |
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| Substance intoxication or withdrawalEmergencyNot selected |
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| BorderlineEmergencyNot selected |
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| PTSDEmergencyNot selected |
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| AutismEmergencyNot selected |
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| IatrogenicEmergencyNot selected |
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| Why it fits | Paranoia, internal preoccupation, threat misinterpretation | Cognitive impairment, fluctuating attention, fear, pain | Irritability, grandiosity, limit-setting intolerance, impulsivity | Alcohol, methamphetamine, cocaine, GHB, alcohol/benzo/GHB withdrawal | Abandonment, humiliation, perceived invalidation | Defensive aggression, hyperarousal, startle, fear | Overload, communication failure, routine disruption, pain | Coercion, seclusion threat, crowding, sleep deprivation |
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| What argues against | Applies to the whole presentationReview locally. | |||||||
| Must-not-miss | Weapons, command voices, victim-specific delusions, severe disorganisation | Infection, pain, retention, constipation, medication toxicity | Psychosis, exhaustion, severe substance co-use | Hyperthermia, seizures, | ||||
| Bedside question | Applies to the whole presentationAggression is often fear- or belief-driven rather than predatory. | |||||||
| Immediate action | Applies to the whole presentationViolence in psychosis is often defensive from perceived threat Mixed irritability is easy to underestimate | |||||||
| Investigations | Applies to the whole presentationGuided by presentation. | |||||||
| Mimics / overlap | Applies to the whole presentationReview overlap locally. | |||||||
Scroll horizontally to review more candidate differentials. Clinical reference — not validated decision support. Review before use.
Review locally.
Aggression is often fear- or belief-driven rather than predatory.
Violence in psychosis is often defensive from perceived threat Mixed irritability is easy to underestimate
Guided by presentation.
Review overlap locally.
Paranoia, internal preoccupation, threat misinterpretation
Weapons, command voices, victim-specific delusions, severe disorganisation
Cognitive impairment, fluctuating attention, fear, pain
Infection, pain, retention,
Safety first. Act early.
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v10 | Local content only
Last updated: Pending review
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Create a concise comparison summary for documentation or handoff.
Source pending review
v10 | Local content only
Last updated: Pending review
| Self-harm plus outward aggression, severe dissociation |
| Weapons, severe dissociation, child or family risk |
| Missed pain/medical cause, restraint injury |
| Reciprocal escalation, repeated restrictive practices |