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The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has attempted to formulate the diagnostic criteria for the various mental health disorders according to a disease model specification using the same type of approach that physical diseases are diagnosed with. This approach has generated criticism from numerous sources, but APA continues to attempt to present the various forms of […]

Catatonia is a condition that has been described since the 16th century and was most often associated with the psychotic disorder schizophrenia. However, the schizophrenia subtype catatonic schizophrenia has been eliminated from the current diagnostic manual used by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the DSM-5. Catatonia is now listed in the category of schizophrenia spectrum […]

The major feature of schizoaffective disorder is an uninterrupted period of time where the individual expresses both the features of a major mood disorder (major depression or manic behavior) along with the mandatory symptoms associated with schizophrenia (hallucinations, delusions, and/or disorganized speech). The diagnostic criteria for schizoaffective disorder that are presented by the American Psychiatric […]

The characteristic feature of schizophreniform disorder is that it is a time-limited condition that can only last between one month and six months. When the psychotic symptoms last more than one day but less than one month, the individual would receive a diagnosis of brief psychotic disorder. Otherwise, the symptoms of schizophreniform disorder are identical […]

By definition, brief psychotic disorder involves a sudden onset of psychotic behavior and lasts less than one month with the person returning to their full functioning. The disorder can last from less than a day to less than one month, but its duration cannot extend beyond 30 days. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) does report […]

Psychotic disorders can account for some of the most well-known, infamous, and misunderstood mental health conditions. They can be debilitating for patients and scary for those who do not know how the disorders work. As complex as the conditions are, the possibility of drug addiction introduces new questions. This guide looks at the chances of […]