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Brief psychotic disorder

Last reviewed: 1 Apr 2025
Last updated: 21 Feb 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • presence of risk factors
  • at least 1 positive psychotic symptom lasting >1 day but <1 month
  • symptoms not due to substance use
  • symptoms not due to medical condition
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • pregnant or within 4 weeks postpartum
  • recent stress and trauma
Full details

Risk factors

  • significant life stressor
  • personality disorder
  • family history of psychotic disorder
  • pregnancy or 4 weeks postpartum
  • previous psychiatric symptoms in women
  • age 35 to 45 years
  • single mother
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • serum pregnancy test (females)
Full details

Tests to consider

  • electrolytes
  • BUN
  • creatinine
  • glucose
  • LFTs
  • TFTs
  • syphilis serology
  • urinalysis
  • urine toxicology
  • ECG
  • CT scan brain
  • MRI brain
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

able to accept or tolerate oral treatment

refusing or unable to tolerate oral medication

Contributors

Authors

Kimberly R. Warren, PhD

Associate Professor

Morgan State University

Department of Psychology

Baltimore

MD

Disclosures

KRW declares that she has no competing interests.

Elaine Weiner, MD

Assistant Professor

Outpatient Research Program

Department of Psychiatry

Maryland Psychiatric Research Center

University of Maryland

School of Medicine

Catonsville

MD

Disclosures

EW declares that she has no competing interests.

Deanna L. Kelly, PharmD

Associate Professor

Director

Treatment Research Program

Maryland Psychiatric Research Center

University of Maryland

School of Medicine

Department of Psychiatry

Catonsville

MD

Disclosures

DLK has served as a consultant for Alkermes and HLS Therapeutics.

Acknowledgements

Dr Kimberly Warren, Dr Elaine Weiner, and Dr Deanna Kelly would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr William R. Keller, a previous contributor to this topic.

Disclosures

WRK declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Joel Yager, MD

Professor

Department of Psychiatry

University of New Mexico School of Medicine

Albuquerque

NM

Disclosures

JY is an author of a reference cited in this topic.

Craig N. Sawchuk, PhD

Affiliate Assistant Professor

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

University of Washington Medical Center

Seattle

WA

Disclosures

CNS declares that he has no competing interests.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th ed. Text revision. (DSM-5-TR). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2022.

Fusar-Poli P, Salazar de Pablo G, Rajkumar RP, et al. Diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of brief psychotic episodes: a review and research agenda. Lancet Psychiatry. 2022 Jan;9(1):72-83. Abstract

Kane JM, Leucht S, Carpenter D, et al. Optimizing pharmacologic treatment of psychotic disorders: the expert consensus guideline series. J Clin Psychiatry. 2003;64(12 suppl):1-100. Abstract

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Psychosis and schizophrenia in adults: prevention and management. Mar 2014 [internet publication].Full text

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
  • Differentials

    • Schizophrenia
    • Delusional disorder
    • Major depressive disorder with psychotic features
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • Psychosis and schizophrenia in adults: prevention and management
    • Optimizing pharmacologic treatment of psychotic disorders: the Expert Consensus Guideline Series
    More Guidelines
  • Patient information

    Brief psychotic disorder

    More Patient information
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