A patient presents with psychosis lasting for the past 5 months, which disorder does this indicate?

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Prepare for the Pennsylvania Psychiatry Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each featuring hints and explanations. Master the material and boost your confidence!

In this scenario, the patient exhibits psychosis lasting for the past 5 months. The correct diagnosis among the given options is Schizophreniform Disorder. This condition is characterized by the presence of psychotic symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, or grossly disorganized behavior lasting more than one day but less than six months.

The duration of symptoms being 5 months indicates that the patient's condition has not yet met the 6-month threshold required for a diagnosis of Schizophrenia. Additionally, Schizophreniform Disorder does not require the impairment in social or occupational functioning typical of Schizophrenia, making it a fitting diagnosis in this case.

In contrast, Schizophrenia would require the symptoms to persist for a minimum of six months, hence making it an inappropriate diagnosis in this instance. Schizoaffective Disorder would involve both mood disorder symptoms and psychosis, which is not stipulated in this scenario. Delusional Disorder is characterized primarily by the presence of one or more delusions lasting for a month or longer without the broader range of psychotic symptoms found in the other conditions. Thus, the specificity and duration of the symptoms align clearly with Schizophreniform Disorder.

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