Schizophreniform Disorder

Schizophrenia	Types of Schizophrenia
Psychotic Symptoms	Schizoaffective Disorder
Delusional Disorder	Schizophreniform Disorder
Shared Psychotic Disorder	Brief Psychotic Disorder

Schizophreniform disorder is characterized by the presence of the symptoms of schizophrenia, including delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior, and negative symptoms. The disorder, including its prodromal, active, and residual phases, lasts longer than 1 month but less than 6 months.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, approximately two thirds of patients diagnosed with schizophreniform disorder progress to a diagnosis of schizophrenia. To be diagnosed with schizophrenia, you must have had symptoms for at least 6 months. Others who are first diagnosed with schizophreniform disorder may later be diagnosed with another serious mental illness such as bipolar disorder. Some people given the diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder recover fully and do not ever go on to develop another mental illness.

The prevalence of schizophreniform disorder is equally distributed between men and women, with peak onset between the ages of 18-24 years in men and ages 24-35 years in women.

DSM-IV Criteria:

A. Criteria A, D, and E of Schizophrenia are met.

B. An episode of the disorder (including prodromal, active, and residual phases) lasts at least 1 month but less than 6 months. (When the diagnosis must be made without waiting for recovery, it should be qualified as "Provisional.")

Specify if:

- Without Good Prognostic Features

- With Good Prognostic Features: as evidenced by two (or more) of the following:

    (1) onset of prominent psychotic symptoms within 4 weeks of the first noticeable change in usual behavior or functioning

    (2) confusion or perplexity at the height of the psychotic episode

    (3) good premorbid social and occupational functioning

    (4) absence of blunted or flat affect

Treatment of Schizophreniform Disorder:

Treatment of schizophreniform disorder is generally the same as that for schizophrenia.

Medication:
Medications can be very effective but are often refused or forgotten. Inpatient treatment may be required. Antipsychotic medications are the most common type of medication used to treat this disorder, but other medications such as tranquilizers and antidepressants may also be of value.

Psychotherapy:
Therapy is generally not very effective as a treatment for this disorder. It may be of benefit to both the patient and family members to assist in acceptance of the diagnosis.