Various mental disorders and medical conditions must be considered in the differential diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder. 

These include psychotic disorder due to another medical condition or its treatment; delirium or major neurocognitive disorder or major neurocognitive disorder; substance/medication induced psychotic disorder or delirium; major depressive or bipolar disorder with psychotic features; schizoaffective disorder; other specified or unspecified bipolar and related disorder; major depressive or bipolar disorder with catatonic features; schizophrenia; delusional disorder; other specified or unspecified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder; schizotypal, schizoid, or paranoid personality disorders; autism spectrum disorder; disorders presenting in childhood with disorganized speech; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; obsessive compulsive disorder; posttraumatic stress disorder; and traumatic brain injury.

Other Mental Disorders and Medical Conditions as Differential DIagnoses to Schizophreniform Disorder

They differ based on how long the psychosis lasts. Schizophreniform disorder and schizophrenia have a duration of more than one month which is more than brief psychotic disorder, which usually only lasts one month.

Brief Psychotic Disorder as a Differential Diagnosis to Schizophreniform Disorder and Schizophrenia

Differential diagnoses to schizophreniform disorder include:

- Other Mental Disorders and Medical Conditions
- Brief Psychotic Disorder


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Schizophreniform disorder is a psychotic disorder that affects action, thought, relationship with others, emotional expression, and reality perceived within one to six months lasting duration.

Schizophreniform Disorder

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., Text revision). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

DSM-5-TR

A. Two or more of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a 1-month period (or less if successfully treated). At least one of these must be (1), (2), or (3): 

1. Delusions.

2. Hallucinations.

3. Disorganized speech.

4. Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior.

5. Negative symptoms.

B. An episode of the disorder lasts at least 1 month but less than 6 months.

C. Schizoaffective disorder and depressive or bipolar disorder with psychotic features have been excluded because either 1) no major depressive or manic episodes have occurred or 2) mood episodes have been present for a small portion of the total duration of the active and residual periods of the illness during the active-phase symptoms.

D. The disturbance does not ascribe to physiological functions of drugs or another medical condition.


[DSM-5-TR] Diagnostic Criteria of Schizophreniform Disorder

Due to the nature of a Schizophreniform Disorder diagnosis being a possible precursor to Schizophrenia and the similarities shared between the two diagnoses, more information that applies to Schizophreniform Disorder can also be found under Schizophrenia. This relevant information is separated into:

- Associated Features
- Development and Course (age-related factors)
- Culture-Related Diagnostic Issues
- Sex- and Gender-Related Diagnostic Issues
- Differential Diagnoses
- Comorbid Diagnoses


[DSM-5-TR] Schizophreniform Disorder - Additional Information

There are currently no psychometric tests and diagnostic research results for schizophreniform disorder.

Associated Features of Schizophreniform Disorder

Incidence of schizophreniform disorder is low in high-income countries and high in low-income countries. In some particular sociocultural settings, schizophreniform disorder may be as common as schizophrenia.

Prevalence of Schizophreniform Disorder

Due to the similar development of schizophreniform disorder and schizophrenia, those who receive a diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder (provisional) are likely to end up with a more specific follow-up diagnosis. Only about a third of patients will be diagnosed with schizophreniform disorder as the final diagnosis after recovery, whereas the remaining two-thirds will be diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Development and Course of Schizophreniform Disorder

Risk and prognostic factors that affect the diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder include:

- Genetic and Physiological Factors

Risk and Prognostic Factors of Schizophreniform Disorder

Majority of individuals with schizophreniform disorder will experience dysfunction in several areas of daily functioning (e.g. interpersonal relationships).

Functional Consequences of Schizophreniform Disorder

Differential Diagnoses to Schizophreniform Disorder

This includes the intersection of connections and/or research related to (a) disorders as a general category in other fields of study and research. Such fields include:

- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
- Health Psychology


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