schizophreniform disorder

in DSM–IV–TR and DSM–5, a disorder whose essential features are identical to those of schizophrenia except that the total duration is between 1 and 6 months (i.e., intermediate between brief psychotic disorder and schizophrenia) and social or occupational functioning need not be impaired. The diagnosis applies without qualification to an episode of between 1 and 6 months’ duration from which the individual has already recovered. The diagnosis is provisional when there is no certainty of recovery within the 6-month period. If the disturbance persists beyond 6 months, the diagnosis would be changed to schizophrenia.

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Psychology term of the day

February 22nd 2025

excitotoxic lesion

a lesion caused by paroxysmal overactivity of neurons, which may be associated with seizures or occur after stroke. This is most commonly caused by overstimulation of neurons by excitatory amino acids (see excitotoxicity).