Citation

Fennig S, Craig TJ, Bromet EJ. Psychopathology 1996; 29(6): 315-324.

Affiliation

State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Karger Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8994275

Abstract

The temporal consistency of the research diagnosis of DSM-III-R delusional disorder was assessed. Subsequent to their first psychiatric hospitalization, psychotic patients were diagnosed twice using a best-estimate procedure after 6- and 24-month follow-up. Only 57.1% of the 7 subjects diagnosed at the 6-month follow-up conference retained the diagnosis at the 24-month review. Conversely, 50.0% of the 8 subjects given this diagnosis at 24 months had different 6-month diagnoses. By contrast, 100% of a matched control group maintained the same diagnosis at both time points. Course and outcome in this sample varied considerably, with 2 of the subjects making severe suicide attempts. Longitudinal assessment in psychotic patients in their first episode is mandatory, and an initial diagnosis of delusional disorder has to be interpreted as provisional.

Language: en