Brief Psychotic Disorder is a psychotic disorder that involves at least one positive psychotic symptom (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech), and/or grossly abnormal psychomotor behaviour, including catatonia. The symptoms must characteristically last for at least 1 day but no longer than 1 month. Individuals with brief psychotic disorder typically experience emotional turmoil or overwhelming confusion, and the although the duration can be brief, the symptoms may be severe (e.g., poor judgment, cognitive impairment, or acting on delusions). A diagnosis of brief psychotic disorder requires a full remission of all symptoms and a full return to the premorbid level of functioning within 1 month of the onset of the disturbance.
Presence of at least 1
of the following symptoms. At least 1
of these must be (1), (2), or (3):
Duration of an episode of the disturbance is at least 1
day but less than 1
month, with eventual full return to premorbid level of functioning.
The disturbance is not better explained by major depressive or bipolar disorder with psychotic features or another psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia or catatonia, and is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or another medical condition.
Specify if:
4
weeks postpartum.Specify current severity:
7
days) on a 5-point scale ranging from 0 (not present) to 4 (present and severe). (Refer to DSM-5 chapter “Assessment Measures”, and the Clinician-Rated Dimensions of Psychosis Symptom Severity)The term psychosis has been defined in various ways in the medical literature over time. The narrowest and current definition of psychosis is hallucinations and delusions, with the lack of reality testing or insight. A broader definition of psychosis would also include disorganized thought, emotions, and behaviour. This loose definition was more common in the past, and schizophrenia was often overdiagnosed as a result.
Type | Onset | Length | Psychotic Symptoms | Mood Symptoms | Functional Decline? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brief psychotic disorder | Sudden | 1 day to 1 month | At least 1 of: • Delusions • Hallucinations • Disorganized speech • Grossly disorganized or catatonic behaviour | No | Full resolution of symptoms |
Schizophreniform disorder | Can be prodromal | 1 month to 6 months | At least 2 of: • Delusions • Hallucinations • Disorganized speech • Grossly disorganized or catatonic behaviour • Negative symptoms | No | Not required |
Schizophrenia | Can be prodromal | > 6 months | At least 2 of: • Delusions • Hallucinations • Disorganized speech • Grossly disorganized or catatonic behaviour • Negative symptoms | No | Required |
Schizoaffective disorder | Can be prodromal | Major mood episode + 2 weeks of isolated psychotic symptoms + predominantly mood symptoms over course of illness | • Delusions or hallucinations for 2 or more weeks, which must be in absence of a major mood episode (depressive or manic) during the lifetime duration of the illness | Required | Not required |
Delusional disorder | Can be prodromal | > 1 month | • One or more delusions, with no other psychotic symptoms. | No | Normal function aside from impact of delusions |