A psychotic condition similar to schizophrenia, but develops rapidly and is only present for a shorter period of time (<6 months). It is serious and often disabling with positive and negative symptoms.
Assessment Findings
- Positive: hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, disorganized speech, behavioral disorganization or catatonia.
- Negative: alogia, affect flattening/blunting, anhedonia, avolition, asociality
Treatment and Management
- Antipsychotics
- Risperidone (Risperdal), Quetiapine (Seroquel), Olanzapine (Zyprexia), and Ziprasidone (Geodon) are common.
- Aripiprazole (Abilify), and Paliperidone (Invega) are new generation neuroleptics that serve as partial antagonists of D2 Dopamine Receptors.
- Antidepressants: if depressive symptoms are observed, they are usually treated with an SSRI or SNRI.
- Antimanics: for if manic symptoms accompany psychosis
- Lithium Carbonate, Carbamazepine, Valproic Acid, Lamotrigine or Topiramate
- Supportive Psychotherapy: insight-oriented therapy (often ineffective due to limited insight), and group therapy may be used.