What is the maximum duration for symptoms to qualify as brief psychotic disorder?

Brief psychotic disorder is characterized by the sudden onset of psychotic symptoms, such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, or grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior. To qualify for this diagnosis, these symptoms must last for at least one day but less than one month. This time frame allows for the identification of acute episodes that are transient and not indicative of a more chronic disorder.

The duration requirement of less than one month is key to distinguishing brief psychotic disorder from other psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, which requires continuous symptoms for at least six months, or schizophreniform disorder, which lasts for one to six months. The emphasis on a shorter duration in brief psychotic disorder highlights the potential for a full return to premorbid functioning following the episode, setting it apart in terms of clinical presentation and prognosis.