What proportion of individuals with Brief Psychotic Disorder will later be diagnosed with schizophrenia, an affective disorder, or another psychotic disorder?

• A. More than 70%
• B. Less than 50%
• C. About 50%
• D. No risk

Answer: (B)

The important idea here is prognosis after a brief psychotic episode. Brief Psychotic Disorder involves sudden psychotic symptoms that last at least a day but less than a month, with full return to premorbid functioning in most cases. While some individuals do later develop schizophrenia-spectrum or other psychotic/affective disorders, the overall number is relatively small. Most studies show progression to a schizophrenia-spectrum or related disorder occurs in a minority—well below half of cases—so the best estimate is that the risk is less than 50%. This reflects the generally favorable short-term outcome for Brief Psychotic Disorder, with only a subset at higher risk due to factors like persistent residual symptoms, family history, or psychosocial stressors.