Brief Psychotic Disorder

Brief Psychotic Disorder

As the name implies, brief psychotic disorder is a short-term illness that presents with psychotic symptoms. The symptoms occur suddenly and last for less than a month. Usually, the person recovers completely.  ^[1]

Epidemiology

Brief psychotic disorder is uncommon. Generally, the first occurrence is at early adulthood. The disorder is more common in women than in men.^[2]

Types

There are three basic forms of brief psychotic disorder: 1. brief psychotic disorder with obvious stressor 2. brief psychotic disorder without obvious stressor  and 3. brief psychotic disorder with postpartum onset. The last type typically occurs in women within 4 weeks after giving birth.^[2]

Causes

Temporary psychotic reactions may be a result of severe stress or postpartum depression. Persons with personality disorders also appear to have increased chances of developing brief psychotic reactions in response to stress. Also, many clinicians believe that brief psychotic disorder may arise as precursor to a much longer psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia.^[3] Genetics is thought to have a role as the disorder is more common in people who have family members with mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder. The disorder may also be due to poor coping skills or as a defense or a means of escape when a person undergoes a traumatic situation.^[2]

Signs and Symptoms

The most usual symptoms are hallucination and delusion. In hallucination, there is a sensory perception of an imaginary object so that the person may see things or hear voices which are actually absent. In delusion, the individual clings on to some false assumptions that he or she refuses to give up. Other symptoms include disorganized thinking, unusual behavior and clothing, memory problems, incomprehensible language and speech, disorientation, mental confusion, alterations in eating and sleeping habits, weight change and abnormally increased or decreased energy level.^[4]

Diagnosis

Complete medical history and physical exam are important. To rule out physical diseases, certain laboratory tests are performed. Specifically structured interview and assessment tools are used to assess the patient for a psychotic disorder.^[2]         

Treatment

Typical treatment for brief psychotic disorder includes psychotherapy and medication. Hospitalization may be warranted in certain cases.^[1]    

References:

1. http://www.medicinenet.com/brief_psychotic_disorder/article.htm
2. http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/mental-health-brief-psychotic-disorder
3. http://www.allaboutcounseling.com/library/brief-psychotic-disorder/
4. http://www.primehealthchannel.com/brief-psychotic-disorder.html

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