[Symptomatic psychoses]

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology

Context:

• Existing classifications of psychoses, including acute exogenous reactive types (AERT), exogenous, somatogenic, organic, and symptomatic, exhibit significant symptom overlap.
• The term 'symptomatic psychosis' is conventionally considered superior but may be redundant, as it implies direct or indirect brain damage.

Purpose:

• To propose 'organic psychosis' as a more encompassing and useful term for AERT.
• To clarify diagnostic criteria for symptomatic psychic disorders, incorporating prerequisites by K. Schneider and Weitbrechts.
• To differentiate between local psychosyndrome and psychoendocrine psychosyndrome based on lesion characteristics and personality factors.

Summary:

• Acute exogenous reactive psychoses (AERT) present with symptoms nearly identical to other psychosis classifications, suggesting a unified approach.
• The concept of organic psychosis is advocated for AERT, acknowledging the necessity of brain damage, whether direct or indirect.
• Diagnosis should not solely rely on impaired consciousness; lucid consciousness is crucial for identifying disorders, and episodic consciousness disturbances are possible.
• Organic psychosyndrome involves a reduction in psychic functions, often irreversible, with symptoms influenced by lesion location, premorbid personality, and compensatory mechanisms.
• AERT can resolve through cure, lead to death, or develop into an organic psychosyndrome.

Impact:

• Recommends a more precise terminology in psychiatric diagnostics by consolidating AERT under the umbrella of organic psychosis.
• Highlights the importance of considering neurological underpinnings and individual psychological factors in diagnosing and understanding psychosis.
• Provides a framework for differentiating psychosyndromes, aiding in more accurate diagnosis and potentially tailored treatment strategies.