- Introduction to Schizophrenia and Related Disorders
- Delusional Disorder
- Brief Psychotic Disorder
- Schizophreniform Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Schizoaffective Disorder
- Substance- or Medication-Induced Psychotic Disorder
- Psychotic Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition
- Other Schizophrenia Spectrum and Psychotic Disorders
- Antipsychotic Medications
Brief psychotic disorder is uncommon. Preexisting personality disorders (eg, paranoid, histrionic, narcissistic, schizotypal, borderline), as well as certain medical conditions (eg, systemic lupus erythematosus, steroid ingestion), predispose to its development. A major stressor, such as loss of a loved one, may precipitate the disorder.
Patients with the disorder manifest at least one psychotic symptom for ≥ 1 day and < 1 month:
Delusions
Hallucinations
Disorganized speech
Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
Brief psychotic disorder is not diagnosed if a psychotic mood disorder, a schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, a physical disorder, or an adverse drug effect (from therapeutic or illicit drug use) better accounts for the symptoms. If this condition occurs in the context of marked stress, it is called brief reactive psychosis (1).
Differentiating between brief psychotic disorder, schizophreniform disorder, and schizophrenia in a patient without any prior psychotic symptoms is based on duration of symptoms; if the duration exceeds 1 month, the patient no longer meets required diagnostic criteria for brief psychotic disorder.
Treatment of brief psychotic disorder is similar to treatment of an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia; supervision and short-term treatment with antipsychotics may be required.
Relapse is common, but patients typically function well between episodes and have few or no symptoms. There does appear to be increased risk, in those with brief psychotic disorder, of developing schizophrenia or another disorder on the schizophrenia spectrum (2).
References
1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Text Revision, DSM-5-TR (DSM-5-TR). American Psychiatric Association Publishing, Washington, DC, 2022, pp 109-112.
108-111.
2. Fusar-Poli P, Cappucciati M, Bonoldi I, et al. Prognosis of Brief Psychotic Episodes: A Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016;73(3):211-220. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.2313.