Schizophreniform disorder has sometimes been a provisional diagnosis in psychotic individuals, while the condition waits to see if symptoms improve by 6 months of illness or persist or progress to support the impression of schizophrenia (Strakowski, 1994). There is usually functional impairment (academic, occupational or social) by the time schizophrenia is diagnosed, such difficulties may not be present at the diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder. Schizophrenic symptoms must be present for at least 6 months for that condition to be diagnosed, but are by definition present for less than 6 months in schizophreniform disorder. Schizophreniform disorder and schizophrenia share many features and symptoms, but differ in the duration of symptoms and degree of functional impairment. Symptoms and Prognosis of Schizophreniform Disorder The fifth edition of the DSM has made no specific changes in diagnostic criteria for schizophreniform disorder but has altered the principal criterion for diagnosis of schizophrenia itself (Criterion A) and eliminated the various subtypes of schizophrenia previously identified (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Like the other entities in the schizophrenia spectrum, schizophreniform disorder is a serious and often disabling mental illness with both positive and negative thought and behavioral symptoms, demonstrable but nonspecific changes in brain anatomy, impairment of cognitive function evident on neuropsychological testing, suggestion of genetic predisposition and evidence of abnormal brain dopamine neurotransmission and clinical response to dopamine-blocking neuroleptic medications and some types of psychotherapy (Van Os & Kapur, 2009). Schizophreniform disorder is a part of the schizophrenia spectrum in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a psychotic condition similar in its symptoms to schizophrenia, but developing rapidly and present for a shorter period of time. DSM-5 Category: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders Introduction
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