Introduction
Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder when people’s mind is affected. The symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, and problems with emotional expression. Brief psychotic disorder and schizophreniform disorder have similar symptoms to schizophrenia but differ by duration, thus, requiring slightly different treatments.
Discussion
The brief psychotic disorder has the shortest duration of less than a month compared to the other two diagnoses. People with “delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized behavior, with a return to normal functioning over a short time span” are diagnosed with a brief psychotic disorder (Moini et al., 2021, p. 191). The schizophreniform disorder also has these symptoms, which last for approximately six months and cause a loss of interest and pleasure in life. Its similarity to schizophrenia is justified because both have cerebral cortical dysfunction. If the disorder exceeds six months, then a patient has schizophrenia. However, it does not necessarily mean that a person develops schizophrenia, as this diagnosis is the most severe and lasts longer (Harvey, 2019). People constantly lose the connection to reality and demonstrate cognitive difficulties.
Regarding the treatment, all three use antipsychotics like risperidone that alter brain chemistry and reduce hallucinations. Since people with brief psychotic disorders may develop depression, their treatment involves antidepressants and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy (Moini, 2020). Sometimes people with schizophreniform disorder take mood stabilizers or anticonvulsants to calm hyperactivity. For such patients, treatment lasts for a year with constant monitoring. Meanwhile, patients with schizophrenia learn to live with their conditions using individual therapy, resilience training and supported employment (Harvey, 2019). They receive first and second-generation antipsychotics that relieve their symptoms. Still, three diagnoses need medications and therapies simultaneously.
Conclusion
To conclude, a brief psychotic disorder lasts for a month, while schizophrenia has a minimum duration of six months. However, all diagnoses involve similar symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and aphasia. Psychotherapists should pay attention to medications and therapies to treat patients with such conditions.
References
Harvey, P. D., Strassnig, M. T., & Silberstein, J. (2019). Prediction of disability in schizophrenia: Symptoms, cognition, and self-assessment. Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 10(3), Web.
Moini, J., Koenitzer, J. & Galbo, A. (2021). Chapter 11 – Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. In Global Emergency of Mental Disorders, 185–201. Web.