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Schizophreniform disorder

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Schizophreniform disorder

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High Yield Notes
6 pages
Flashcards

Schizophreniform disorder

7 flashcards
Questions

USMLE® Step 1 style questions USMLE

4 questions
Preview

A 23-year-old man is brought to the physician by his family due to concerns about his behavior. The patient’s parent tells the physician that for the past month, the patient has been telling them that he is receiving signals on the television from a secret organization to “save the world from the upcoming alien invasion.” His parent adds that they sometimes see the patient communicating with people who are not there. The patient dropped out of his college courses seven months ago after his grades deteriorated, although he was an excellent student before. At that time, the patient also stopped taking care of his hygiene, often not showering for multiple days, and he has withdrawn from his friends and family. Past medical history is noncontributory, and the patient does not drink alcohol or use recreational drugs. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?  

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Summary

Schizophreniform disorder is a mental illness characterized by symptoms similar to schizophrenia, but with a shorter duration and a lack of functional decline making it a distinct disorder. It is diagnosed when symptoms of schizophrenia are present for a significant portion of the time within one month, but signs of disruption are not present for the full six months required for the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Treatment typically involves a combination of antipsychotic medication and psychotherapy. The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms and support the individual's recovery, with the understanding that symptoms may reoccur in the future.