What Is Schizophreniform Disorder?

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This article will review the symptoms, duration, and treatment for schizophreniform disorder.

Symptoms of Schizophreniform Disorder

Individuals with schizophreniform disorder experiencepsychotic symptomsthat last for fewer than six months and then abate. If symptoms persist for more than six months, the individual has another disorder, such as schizophrenia orschizoaffective disorderrather than schizophreniform disorder.

Signs and Symptoms of Schizophrenia

In order to qualify for a diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder, an individual must have two or more of the following symptoms for a period of at least one month but not longer than six months:

What Is Psychosis?

Part of assessing for a diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder also includes making sure that delusions are not actually based on reality. For example, some individuals with psychotic symptoms believe that the government is watching or paying special attention to them.

Although there are cases where someone might experience a delusion that they are being followed, some people do have stalkers. Clinicians must rule out this possibility before assigning a diagnosis.

RecapAn episode related to schizophreniform disorder lasts one to six months, includes two or more psychotic symptoms, and must occur in the absence of a major depressive or manic episode.

Recap

An episode related to schizophreniform disorder lasts one to six months, includes two or more psychotic symptoms, and must occur in the absence of a major depressive or manic episode.

Types of Schizophreniform Disorder

Although schizophreniform disorder is treatable, the provider making the diagnosis will indicate whether the symptoms are presentwithorwithoutgood prognostic features. Good prognostic features include the onset of prominent psychotic symptoms fewer than four weeks from the first noticeable change in behavior or function. The person must also have good functioning prior to symptom onset and the absence offlattened affect.

If two or more good prognostic features are present, you would be diagnosed withschizophreniform disorder with good prognostic features. If fewer than two good prognostic features are present, then it would beschizophreniform disorder without good prognostic features.

Do I Have Schizophreniform Disorder?

Since it is your brain’s job to alert you to problems in your body, it can be challenging to notice when your brain gives you incorrect information. Many people with psychotic disorders do not realize they are experiencing psychotic symptoms, and they often do not believe providers when they are first diagnosed.

The stigma surrounding psychotic disorders also contributes to this. If someone has a negative view of psychosis or what it means to have a psychotic disorder, they are more likely to resist believing that it could happen to them.

It is important to know that anyone can have a mental health issue, and developing psychotic symptoms is not a reflection on the individual’s worth or value.

Signs you might be experiencing psychosis include:

The Internal Experience of Schizophrenia

What Causes Schizophreniform Disorder?

There are gender differences as well. Most men who experience schizophreniform disorder develop symptoms between the ages of 18 and 24, and most women develop symptoms between 24 and 35.

Psychotic symptoms, particularly hallucinations and delusions, are most commonly associated withdopamine, and many other brain chemicals contribute to developing psychotic symptoms.The FDA recently approved a new antipsychotic medication that targetscholinergic receptorsinstead of dopamine receptors.

Schizophreniform Disorder Treatments

Depending on individual needs, schizophreniform disorder can betreatedin different ways.

Although recommendations may vary based upon symptoms and circumstances, it might be recommended that individuals with schizophreniform disorder continue treatment for about a year after symptoms end in order to ensure that they are stable and have the support they need in their recovery.

Approximately one third of people who recover within six months end up with a diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder and go on to resume normal baseline functioning.The remaining two-thirds continue to have symptoms and will receive a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.Some research shows that schizophreniform may be episodic and recurrent, similar to mood disorders.

Approximately one third of people who recover within six months end up with a diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder and go on to resume normal baseline functioning.

The remaining two-thirds continue to have symptoms and will receive a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Some research shows that schizophreniform may be episodic and recurrent, similar to mood disorders.

Coping With Schizophreniform Disorder

What can you do to cope with schizophreniform disorder? You might need time off work to get treatment and recover.Social supportfrom loved ones and the greater community can help with access to treatment. It is also important to follow through with self-care needs, including a nutritious diet, maintaining an exercise routine, and maintaining good sleep hygiene.

Although it can be scary to learn that you have a psychotic disorder, schizophreniform disorder is a treatable and manageable condition, and there is hope for a full recovery.

What to Know About the Prodromal Phase in Schizophrenia

5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR); 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787Vohs JL, Leonhardt BL, James AV, et al.Metacognitive reflection and insight therapy for early psychosis: A preliminary study of a novel integrative psychotherapy.Schizophrenia Research. 2018;195:428-433. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2017.10.041Stahl SM.Beyond the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia to three neural networks of psychosis: Dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate.CNS Spectr. 2018;23(3):187-191. doi:10.1017/S1092852918001013U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves drug with new mechanism of action for treatment of schizophrenia.Benazzi F.Outcome of schizophreniform disorder.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2003;5(3):192-196. doi:10.1007/s11920-003-0041-1

5 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR); 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787Vohs JL, Leonhardt BL, James AV, et al.Metacognitive reflection and insight therapy for early psychosis: A preliminary study of a novel integrative psychotherapy.Schizophrenia Research. 2018;195:428-433. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2017.10.041Stahl SM.Beyond the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia to three neural networks of psychosis: Dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate.CNS Spectr. 2018;23(3):187-191. doi:10.1017/S1092852918001013U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves drug with new mechanism of action for treatment of schizophrenia.Benazzi F.Outcome of schizophreniform disorder.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2003;5(3):192-196. doi:10.1007/s11920-003-0041-1

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR); 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787Vohs JL, Leonhardt BL, James AV, et al.Metacognitive reflection and insight therapy for early psychosis: A preliminary study of a novel integrative psychotherapy.Schizophrenia Research. 2018;195:428-433. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2017.10.041Stahl SM.Beyond the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia to three neural networks of psychosis: Dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate.CNS Spectr. 2018;23(3):187-191. doi:10.1017/S1092852918001013U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves drug with new mechanism of action for treatment of schizophrenia.Benazzi F.Outcome of schizophreniform disorder.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2003;5(3):192-196. doi:10.1007/s11920-003-0041-1

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR); 2022. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787

Vohs JL, Leonhardt BL, James AV, et al.Metacognitive reflection and insight therapy for early psychosis: A preliminary study of a novel integrative psychotherapy.Schizophrenia Research. 2018;195:428-433. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2017.10.041

Stahl SM.Beyond the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia to three neural networks of psychosis: Dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate.CNS Spectr. 2018;23(3):187-191. doi:10.1017/S1092852918001013

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves drug with new mechanism of action for treatment of schizophrenia.

Benazzi F.Outcome of schizophreniform disorder.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2003;5(3):192-196. doi:10.1007/s11920-003-0041-1

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