Hierarchical and nonhierarchical approaches in psychiatric diagnosis: a case report of change in psychiatric symptoms and diagnosis over time.

The article reports the case of a 39-year-old male who was diagnosed with and treated for bipolar disorder. Over the past 18 months, the patient has experienced new onset of auditory hallucinations and worsening of his psychotic symptoms. The treating psychiatrists changed the diagnosis from bipolar disorder to schizoaffective disorder. The authors discuss hierarchical and nonhierarchical approaches to psychiatric diagnosis in relation to this case report.