Acute and Transient Psychoses

Abstract

Brief and acute psychotic disorders with a short duration and a generally good prognosis have long intrigued psychiatrists. Although they are included in internationally accepted diagnostic systems, understanding of these disorders remains minimal. This book is the first comprehensive overview of the clinical features, biology, course and long-term outcome of brief and acute psychoses. The authors review the world literature on the topic and they also present data from their own longitudinal study-the most complete investigation of this group of disorders so far conducted. The book concludes with considerations of the nosological status of brief and acute psychoses and their impact on our understanding of the continuum of psychotic and affective disorders.

Acute and Transient Psychosis: An Overview

“…It was reported by different researchers that ATPD has an episodic course with longer remissions than cases that later develop schizophrenia (Marneros and Pillmann 2004;Jäger et al 2007). It was also found that patients with ATPD have a favourable response to drug treatment, but are usually prescribed antipsychotic medications for long periods to prevent recurrences (Marneros and Pillmann 2004).…”

“…On the other hand, ATPD tends to have an abrupt onset in European countries, and 'acute stress' was recorded only in a small number of cases (Singh et al 2004;Marneros and Pillmann 2004;Jørgensen et al 1997).…”

“…Even the frequency of recurrences was increased compared with rates observed in developing countries. Marneros and Pillmann in 2004 reported that three-quarters of their cases with ATPD had a recurrent affective or psychotic episode, 30 % developed affective disorders, and a relatively small number converted into either schizoaffective disorder or schizophrenia.…”

“…It was also found that patients with ATPD have a favourable response to drug treatment, but are usually prescribed antipsychotic medications for long periods to prevent recurrences (Marneros and Pillmann 2004). Abrupt or acute onset, female gender and good premorbid functioning predicted diagnostic stability and favourable outcome in ATPD (Singh et al 2004;Das et al 2001).…”

“…Abrupt or acute onset, female gender and good premorbid functioning predicted diagnostic stability and favourable outcome in ATPD (Singh et al 2004;Das et al 2001). Marneros and Pillmann in 2004 reported from the follow-up studies that more than half of those affected with ATPD changed to another F2 category 'schizophrenia and related disorders' or mood disorders. The frequency of recurrent affective and psychotic episodes has been interpreted as indicating that ATPD bridges schizophrenia to affective psychoses, from the point of view of psychotic spectrum.…”