DSM-III schizophreniform disorder. Comparisons with schizophrenia and affective disorder

We compared blind ratings of outcome and familial psychopathology across four diagnostic groups to test the validity of DSM-III schizophreniform disorder. Outcome ratings for schizophreniform disorder fell between those for affective disorder and those for schizophrenia. Outcome differences between schizophreniform and schizophrenic groups were no longer significant when patients who received somatic therapy during their index admission were excluded. Furthermore, schizophreniform probands had patterns of familial psychopathology that resembled those for schizophrenic probands more than those for affective disorder probands. In the combined group of schizophrenic and schizophreniform patients, longer illness durations at index admission predicted lower recovery rates. Our data suggests that a shorter specified duration may be appropriate in the definition of schizophreniform disorder.