The Co-occurrence of Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Psychosis: Diagnostic Considerations

Gastrointestinal issues are common in schizophrenia and may also co-occur with psychotic symptoms in a variety of other clinical contexts. Although their concurrent development may be coincidental, such presentations may also be attributable to a variety of underlying psychiatric, medical, and neurologic conditions. As patients may first present to mental health services, it is important that both psychiatrists and primary care physicians involved in the care of psychiatric populations have a familiarity with the differential diagnosis of co-occurring gastrointestinal and psychotic symptoms. This narrative review describes the numerous clinical scenarios in which gastrointestinal and psychotic symptoms commonly co-occur and highlights the practical implications thereof.