What distinguishes schizophreniform disorder from schizophrenia?

The distinguishing factor between schizophreniform disorder and schizophrenia is the duration of symptoms. Schizophreniform disorder is characterized by symptoms that last at least one month but less than six months. In contrast, schizophrenia is diagnosed when symptoms persist for six months or more. This time frame is crucial in differentiating the two disorders, as shorter durations suggest that an individual may not yet meet the criteria for a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

While the presence of delusions, gender prevalence, and negative symptoms can be found in both disorders, they do not serve as primary distinguishing factors in the diagnosis. Both conditions can present with delusions and negative symptoms, and the gender prevalence is not significantly different between the two. The duration of the symptoms provides a clear boundary that aids in proper diagnosis and ensures that patients receive appropriate treatment based on their specific mental health condition.