Diagnosis of Brief Psychotic Disorder:

To make a diagnosis of BPD, other conditions with psychotic symptoms must be ruled out. Medical conditions such as diabetes or substance abuse must also be excluded.

The DSM-5 lists criteria for diagnosing brief psychotic disorder as follows:

• Presence of one (or more) of the following symptoms. At least one of these must be (1), (2), or (3):

  1. Delusions
  2. Hallucinations
  3. Disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence).
  4. Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior.

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  Note: Do not include a symptom if it is a culturally sanctioned response.

• Duration of an episode of the disturbance is at least 1 day but less than 1 month, with
  eventual full return to premorbid level of functioning.
• The disturbance is not better explained by major depressive or bipolar disorder with
  psychotic features or another psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia or catatonia,
  and is not attributable to the physiological effects.

The disorder is usually also rated in severity out of 5, but it doesn’t have to be.

Causes of Brief Psychotic Disorder:

The exact cause of BPD remains unknown; however, certain factors have been implicated.

• Genetic – BPD is more common in people who have a family history of mood disorders.
• Pre-existing personality disorders – can heighten the person’s predisposition to having brief psychotic disorder.
• Biological – Low estrogen has been seen to cause BPD, which can happen before a menstrual period, after childbirth, or during menopause.

Treatment of Brief Psychotic Disorder:

Treatment for BPD includes medication and/or psychotherapy, with the main goal being to stop any self-harm or fatal consequences during the period of psychosis.

• Admission – Hospitalization may be necessary if symptoms are severe and if the patient has thoughts of harming self and/or others or is exhibiting suicidal and/or homicidal behavior.
• Medication – Medication can be associated with adverse effects such as weight gain and must be managed and monitored by a psychiatrist.

  • Antipsychotics – to reduce psychotic symptoms and agitation
  • Antianxiety meds – to reduce anxiety
  • Mood stabilizers – to stabilize mood changes
  • Sedatives – Benzodiazepines to reduce anxiety and enhance relaxation
• Psychotherapy

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy – to examine triggers that cause a person to feel so overwhelmed and anxious that the mind goes into a psychotic state. It also teaches people to choose ways of processing stressful thoughts, and learning coping skills, that result in a more positive reaction. Long-term CBT can significantly reduce the chance of a repeated occurrence or of it predisposing a chronic psychotic disorder.
  • Compliance therapy – to educate on the importance of regular medication and to set up reminders for pill taking and scheduled doctor and therapy visits
  • Family interventions – to give an additional perspective on how the psychotic episodes are affecting the family unit and to strategize on what to do until it ends or should another one occur.
  • Video recorded self-observation – can help greatly in seeing how one’s brief psychosis affects others

People with this condition experience a complete resolution of symptoms and return to their previous level of functioning, although BPD can occur on more than one occasion with complete remission between episodes.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, you can call the Suicide Prevention Hotline and talk for free at 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). They can also provide you with information about low-cost clinics and therapists for your depression.