What is the duration of symptoms required for a diagnosis of Schizophreniform disorder?

For a diagnosis of Schizophreniform disorder, symptoms must be present for a duration of 1 to 6 months. This condition is characterized by the same types of symptoms found in schizophrenia, such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and negative symptoms, but the key difference lies in the time frame. Schizophreniform disorder serves as a transitional diagnosis between brief psychotic disorder and schizophrenia itself.

If symptoms last less than one month, it would not meet the criteria for any form of schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder, as it would indicate a brief psychotic episode. Conversely, symptoms lasting more than six months would indicate the presence of schizophrenia, as that is the minimum duration required for a schizophrenia diagnosis. Thus, the 1 to 6-month period is crucial in distinguishing Schizophreniform disorder from these other conditions.