Brief Psychotic Disorder

About Brief Psychotic Disorder

Brief psychotic disorder involves the sudden onset of at least one psychotic symptom, such as delusions, hallucinations or disorganized speech, lasting at least one day but less than one month, followed by a full return to the previous level of functioning. DSM-5 notes whether the episode follows a marked stressor, begins during pregnancy or within weeks after giving birth, or occurs without an obvious trigger. Older terms for similar presentations include brief reactive psychosis, and ICD-11 describes a related category called acute and transient psychotic disorder. Although the episode is short, people can be very distressed and confused during it, and careful assessment is needed to rule out medical causes and substance effects. Care focuses on safety, a calm supportive environment, sometimes short term medication, and follow up, because some people go on to develop other psychotic or mood disorders.