Psychosis & Schizophrenia Screening: Check Unusual Perceptions and Thoughts
This psychosis screening explores unusual perceptions, suspicious thoughts, and distress using prompts adapted from the PQ-B. Get an instant summary to discuss with a clinician, not a schizophrenia diagnosis.
Reviewed by Michael Callans, MSW 
Psychosis & Schizophrenia Screening is a free, confidential 16-question self-assessment, informed by the validated PQ-B. It takes about 8 minutes, runs entirely in your browser, and gives you a plain-language score across 3 interpretation bands plus an optional in-depth report. It is an educational screening, not a diagnosis.
Unusual experiences, and how much they bother you
Psychosis screening asks about changes in perception and thinking that may warrant a clinical assessment; it cannot identify schizophrenia. This screening looks at brief, unusual experiences that some people have, and crucially at how distressing they feel. In the research, distress matters as much as the experience itself, which is why a professional assessment is the right next step if anything here resonates.
Perceptual experiences
Brief changes in how you see, hear, or sense the world: things looking or sounding different, sensing a presence, or experiences others did not seem to share. This is covered in Part 1's five perceptual items.
Unusual thoughts & suspicion
Feeling watched, mistrustful, or that things carry special meaning, along with thoughts that feel hard to control or not quite your own. Part 1's remaining seven items ask about this pattern specifically.
Distress & impact
How upsetting or disruptive these experiences are. This matters most, because distress is the signal that talking to a professional could really help. Part 2's four items score this separately, from 0 to 4.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| Informed by the validated PQ-B | Rarely | Yes, 16 items |
| Measures distress, not just experiences | No | Yes |
| Clear early-help framing | No | Throughout |
| Avoids labeling or diagnosing | Often labels | Never diagnoses |
| Clinician-reviewed interpretation | Rarely | Yes, clinician reviewed |
| Optional in-depth personalized report | No | Yes, written to your exact scores |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
How scoring works
Answers are scored 0–16 in total. Your result falls into one of 3 bands:
| Score | Band | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 | Few unusual experiences reported | You reported few or no unusual experiences. That is reassuring on this screening. If anything is still weighing on you, support is always available. |
| 3–6 | Some unusual experiences | You reported some unusual experiences. Many people have experiences like these from time to time. Because they can be distressing, it is worth talking with a professional. |
| 7–16 | Elevated experiences worth professional attention | You reported several unusual and distressing experiences. This is exactly the kind of result where talking with a professional soon is genuinely worthwhile. Early support is very effective. |
How the PQ-B-informed screening is scored
The screening has two parts. Part 1 asks 12 yes-or-no questions about recent experiences: five about perceptual changes (things looking, sounding, or feeling different) and seven about unusual thoughts and suspicion (feeling watched, thoughts that feel intrusive, everyday things carrying special meaning). Part 2 asks 4 yes-or-no questions about how distressing and disruptive those experiences were. The two parts are reported separately, an experiences score from 0 to 12 and a distress score from 0 to 4, and combined into a total from 0 to 16 that sorts into three bands: few experiences (0 to 2), some experiences (3 to 6), and elevated experiences worth professional attention (7 to 16).
That two-part structure mirrors what the PQ-B itself was built to weigh together: whether unusual experiences happen at all, and whether they distress or disrupt daily life. The same handful of unusual experiences read very differently depending on the distress score attached to them, which is why this screening reports both numbers instead of collapsing them into one. If suspicious or paranoid thinking is the specific piece that concerns you, the Paranoia Test (R-GPTS) narrows in on that alone. If the unfamiliar or unreal quality of experiences is what stands out, the Depersonalization & Derealization Test covers that territory in more depth.
The displayed bands belong to this website's adaptation and are not the original PQ-B thresholds. This version also groups distress into separate questions instead of rating distress for each endorsed experience. Its total cannot be converted into a probability of developing schizophrenia. Uncertainty or choosing not to answer can also limit what a low result tells you.
Who this screening is for
This screening is written for adults who have noticed brief, unusual perceptual experiences or suspicious thoughts, whether that is a recent change or something that comes and goes. It is a reasonable first step if experiences followed a period of high stress, sleep loss, grief, heavy substance use, or a major life disruption, or if you simply want a structured way to describe what you have been noticing before a doctor's appointment.
If unusual experiences have felt like part of your temperament for years rather than a recent shift, and show up more as social discomfort, odd or magical beliefs, or eccentric thinking than as distinct perceptual episodes, the Schizotypal Personality Disorder Test may describe what you are noticing more closely. This screening is built around emergent or fluctuating experiences and the distress they cause, which is the pattern early-psychosis research focuses on.
Signs it may be time to talk to a professional
A few patterns point more strongly toward getting an assessment soon rather than waiting: experiences that are new or have changed over the past weeks or months, experiences paired with real fear or a sense that something is wrong, perceptions or thoughts that make it hard to trust your own judgment, or people close to you noticing changes in how you talk or act. None of these confirm a diagnosis by itself, but together they are the pattern that early-psychosis clinics are built to evaluate, and getting evaluated early is worth doing even if it turns out to be nothing.
While you wait for an appointment, Grounding Techniques can help you stay oriented when an experience feels disorienting, and they are worth practicing whether or not anything serious turns out to be going on. If experiences ever come with thoughts of harming yourself or feeling unsafe, treat that as urgent: in the US, call or text 988 any time to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. For an ongoing conversation about what you are noticing, the Psychology.com therapist directory lets you search for clinicians experienced with psychosis and early intervention, free and with no account needed.
You do not need an elevated score to request care. Describe any change in sleep, self-care, communication, or ability to manage work and relationships. If you cannot keep yourself safe, or a voice is urging you to harm yourself or someone else, seek emergency help immediately rather than finishing the questionnaire.
What should I tell a doctor about unusual experiences?
Describe what you noticed in your own words, when it started, whether it is changing, and how it affects daily life. Mention sleep loss, prescribed medicines, alcohol or drug use, and any physical symptoms. A clinician can consider several possible explanations; psychosis and schizophrenia are not interchangeable terms.
If you wish, ask someone you trust to help you arrange the appointment or describe changes they have noticed. You can bring this result, but your account matters even without a completed questionnaire. The Psychology.com tests hub offers related self-assessments for further context; additional quizzes should not delay an assessment.
Methodology & sources
The items in this screening are informed by the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief (PQ-B), a 21-item self-report measure developed by Loewy and colleagues to help identify people who may be at clinical high risk for psychosis. The PQ-B asks about unusual perceptual experiences, suspiciousness, and unusual thoughts, and importantly asks how distressing each experience is. Our questions are reworded for readability while keeping the meaning, and the experiences are presented gently and without alarm.
This is an educational screener and not the full validated instrument, and it cannot diagnose anything. Brief, unusual experiences are surprisingly common in the general population and most people who have them never develop a psychotic disorder. What this tool can do is help you notice whether unusual experiences are present and distressing, and encourage you to seek a professional assessment if they are. Early support for psychosis is one of the most effective interventions in mental health, which is why prompt professional help matters.
Loewy and colleagues evaluated the original PQ-B against a structured clinical interview in people presenting to early psychosis clinics. That setting differs from unrestricted online self-screening. The source study supports screening followed by clinical assessment, and does not establish predictive accuracy for this page's adapted questions, response options, or combined bands.
References
- Loewy RL, Pearson R, Vinogradov S, Bearden CE, Cannon TD. Psychosis risk screening with the Prodromal Questionnaire - Brief Version (PQ-B). Schizophr Res. 2011;129(1):42-46.
- Loewy RL, Bearden CE, Johnson JK, Raine A, Cannon TD. The Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ): preliminary validation of a self-report screening measure for prodromal and psychotic syndromes. Schizophr Res. 2005;77(2-3):141-149.
- McGorry PD, Hartmann JA, Spooner R, Nelson B. Beyond the at-risk mental state concept: transitioning to transdiagnostic psychiatry. World Psychiatry. 2018;17(2):133-142.
- Fusar-Poli P, Salazar de Pablo G, Correll CU, et al. Prevention of psychosis: advances in detection, prognosis, and intervention. JAMA Psychiatry. 2020;77(7):755-765.
- Loewy and colleagues, original PQ-B validation study, full text. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3113633/
- National Institute of Mental Health. Understanding Psychosis. nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/understanding-psychosis
Cite this source
Psychology.com. (2026, September 16). Psychosis & Schizophrenia Screening. Psychology.com. https://psychology.com/tests/psychosis-risk
Psychosis & Schizophrenia Screening FAQ
What does this screening check for?
It asks about brief, unusual experiences, such as changes in perception, suspicious thoughts, or thoughts that feel hard to control, and how distressing they are. These are sometimes early signs that a professional assessment could be helpful. The screening does not check for any specific diagnosis.
Is this a schizophrenia test?
An online schizophrenia test can help organize concerns about unusual perceptions and thoughts, but schizophrenia requires a clinical assessment that considers history, functioning, and other possible causes. This screening uses prompts adapted from the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief to describe experiences and distress. It cannot confirm or rule out schizophrenia, distinguish every cause of psychosis, or predict your future health. Bring concerning experiences to a clinician even if the result is low.
Does a high score mean I have schizophrenia?
No. This is not a diagnosis of schizophrenia or any psychotic disorder, and a high score does not mean you have or will develop one. Unusual experiences are common, and most people who have them never develop a psychotic illness. An elevated result simply means it is worth talking with a professional, who can actually assess what is going on.
Why does professional help matter so much here?
Professional assessment matters because unusual experiences can have several explanations, including sleep deprivation, medication effects, substance use, and mental or physical health conditions. A clinician can assess these possibilities and discuss appropriate care. NIMH describes coordinated specialty care for early psychosis, which can include therapy, medication management, family support, and help with school or work. The right plan depends on the assessment and your needs.
Is this test a diagnosis?
No. It is an educational screening for self-reflection only, informed by a validated tool but not the full instrument. Only a licensed clinician can assess psychosis risk or any related condition. If your result is elevated, please arrange an assessment with a mental-health professional soon.
Is the test really confidential?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser. Your individual answers are scored in your browser and are never sent to us or linked to you. They stay in this tab so you can return to your result, and closing or clearing the tab clears them. If you ask us to email the PDF, we receive your summary scores with your email address, never your individual answers. No account is needed.
Related tests
Mental Health Assessment
Based on the validated K10, a general check-in across mood, anxiety, and stress.
PMDD Test (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder)
Based on the validated PSST, with symptom and interference scores and the real PMDD criteria explained.
Bipolar Test
Based on the validated MDQ, with the full positive-screen rule explained, not just a count.