Brief psychotic disorder

Sudden onset of at least 1 positive psychotic symptom (e.g., delusions, hallucinations, disorganised speech, grossly disorganised or catatonic behaviour).

Episode lasts for a short duration (1 to 30 days), with return to full pre-morbid level of functioning; can occur in the presence or absence of a major stressor.

Diagnosis can only be made if other drug-induced, medical, neurological, or other psychiatric conditions can be excluded as causes.

Postnatal brief psychotic disorder is probable when the onset of psychotic symptoms occurs within 4 weeks after giving birth.

Treatment is with antipsychotic medicine and follow-up care with a psychiatric consultant to monitor progress and reduce risk of recurrence.

Brief psychotic disorder (BPD) is a short-term disturbance that involves the sudden onset of at least 1 positive psychotic symptom. These symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disorganised speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence), or grossly disorganised or catatonic behaviour. BPD can last between 1 and 30 days before the patient fully returns to the pre-morbid level of functioning. To be diagnosed as BPD, the disturbance must not be substance induced and not be better accounted for by schizoaffective disorder, a mood disorder with psychotic features, schizophrenia, or a general medical condition (e.g., seizure disorder, syphilis, sarcoidosis, lung cancer, thyrotoxicosis, or head trauma).[1]American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press; 2013. BPD is categorised as occurring with marked stressors, without marked stressors, or postnatal.[1]American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press; 2013.