A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF PSYCHOSIS DUE TO A GENERAL MEDICAL (NEUROLOGICAL) CONDITION - ESTABLISHING PREDICTIVE AND CONSTRUCT-VALIDITY

A sample of 44 patients with a neurological disorder and a DSM-IV diag nosis of Psychosis due to a General Medical Condition were followed on average for 4 years and their response to treatment and clinical cour se noted. Outcome was more benign than in schizophrenia, with most pat ients having a brief duration of psychosis and good response to small doses of neuroleptics. One-fourth of patients suffered a single, brief psychotic episode with return to full premorbid function. None requir ed maintenance neuroleptic treatment. The outcome and descriptive prof ile of the disorder also differed from late-onset schizophrenia. Thus, Psychosis due to a General Medical (Neurological) Condition does appe ar to have predictive validity. However, no temporal association was f ound between the neurological illness and psychosis. Possible reasons for this are discussed.