Clinician handoff
Psychiatric
Designed for a 60-second scan in primary care. Use this to explain why this theory fits, what would weaken it, and which tests are most worth discussing.
Why this still fits
I want to clarify whether my brain fog is secondary to a psychiatric pattern such as mania, psychosis, OCD-level intrusive thoughts, or dissociation rather than a purely physical cause.
What would weaken it
- -Are there intrusive thoughts, compulsions, hallucinations, delusions, or major mood swings driving the cognitive problem?
- -Does the fog rise during dissociation, panic, mania, or psychotic symptoms more than during meals or posture changes?
- -Does this fit a major psychiatric pattern better than depression, anxiety alone, or sleep apnea?
- -What immediate psychiatric support is more appropriate than adding more supplements or lifestyle experiments?
Key points to communicate
- •Please document what findings would confirm this cause versus lower confidence.
- •I want an evidence-first workup with clear follow-up criteria.
- •Please note which competing causes should be checked in parallel if results are inconclusive.
- •Please separate metabolic, sleep, autonomic, and medication overlap before narrowing to one cause.
Tests and measurements to discuss
Need the fuller context? Use the test explainers for the measurement itself, or jump back to the tests section on the Psychiatric page to see how the tests fit the whole pattern.
Psychiatric assessment
Medical rule-outs that could mimic psychiatric symptoms
Medical Rule-Outs
Before psychiatric diagnosis: thyroid panel, B12, folate, calcium, cortisol, drug screen, CBC, CRP. If presentation atypical or rapid onset: autoimmune encephalitis panel (NMDA-R antibodies), brain MRI, EEG.
What this helps clarify: Before psychiatric diagnosis: thyroid panel, B12, folate, calcium, cortisol, drug screen, CBC, CRP.
Peer-reviewed references