First-episode schizophreniform disorder: comparisons with first-episode schizophrenia

Zarate, Carlos A.; Tohen, Mauricio; Land, Michelle L.

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Volume 46, Issue 1 , Pages 31-34, 30 November 2000

First-episode schizophreniform disorder: comparisons with first-episode schizophrenia

Carlos A. Zarate Jr.
- Bipolar and Psychotic Disorders Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
- The International Consortium for Bipolar Disorder Research and the Harvard–McLean First Psychosis Project: Consolidated Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Program, Harvard Medical School and Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, and the Bipolar & Psychotic Disorders Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02178, USA
- Corresponding author. Present address: Bipolar and Psychotic Disorders Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 361 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA. Tel.: +1-508-856-5315; fax: +1-508-856-4854
Mauricio Tohen
- The International Consortium for Bipolar Disorder Research and the Harvard–McLean First Psychosis Project: Consolidated Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Program, Harvard Medical School and Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, and the Bipolar & Psychotic Disorders Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02178, USA
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Michelle L. Land
- Bipolar and Psychotic Disorders Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA

Received 2 November 1999; accepted 24 January 2000.

Abstract

Background: Schizophreniform disorder remains poorly understood and has been reported probably to be a heterogeneous group of psychotic disorders. Method: This study compared first-episode schizophreniform disorder (N=12) and schizophrenia (N=18) patients. The authors propose that schizophreniform disorder has a different type of onset and outcome than schizophrenia. Patients were given extensive assessments at initial evaluation, 6month follow-up, and 24month follow-up. Comparisons between the two groups were made on type of onset, demographic, clinical ratings and outcome variables. Results: Patients with schizophreniform disorder compared to patients with schizophrenia were more likely to have an acute onset (P=0.003), and have recovered by 6months (P=0.03). However, there were no differences in outcome at 24months. Furthermore, all schizophreniform cases except for two were re-diagnosed at 24months as having schizophrenia. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the initial differences of schizophreniform disorder compared to schizophrenia were not apparent at 24months follow-up. Schizophreniform disorder did not emerge as a highly distinctive and stable form of psychosis that merits a diagnostic classification separate from schizophrenia.