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Acute polymorphic psychotic disorder: diagnostic stability over 3 years
Author(s) -
Sajith S. G.,
Chandrasekaran R.,
Sadanandan Unni K. E.,
Sahai A.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2002.01080.x
Subject(s) - psychosis , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychiatry , psychology
Objective: Acute polymorphic psychotic disorder without symptoms of schizophrenia (APPD) in ICD‐10 is unique in many characteristics. This study aimed at investigating the diagnostic stability of APPD over 3 years. Method: Forty‐five patients with first episode APPD were followed up and assessed at regular intervals over a period of 3 years. Results: Thirty‐two patients were females. Average age of the sample was 26.9 years. Thirty‐three cases retained their index diagnosis of APPD, while 12 cases required diagnostic revision: 10 to bipolar affective disorder and the rest to unspecified non‐organic psychosis. Shorter duration of illness (<1 month) and abrupt onset (<48 h) predicted a stable diagnosis of APPD. Conclusion: APPD is a relatively stable diagnosis and argues for a distinct diagnostic entity.