Abstract
Background. In consideration of various diagnostic traditions, as well as the nosological separatedness of and good prognosis in acute short-term psychoses, in the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) acute and transient psychotic disorders (ATPD) were introduced as category F23. The aim of the paper was to overview the available research literature concerning this issue.
Review. In the light of the research conducted so far, ATPDs appear to be infrequent in the population of in-patients, affecting females definitely more often, with an acute or sudden onset, multiform symptomatology, and no typical personality characteristics. Data reported on the ATPD diagnosis stability are rather discrepant in 1-year follow-up studies, and more consistent in those covering longer observation periods. However, as regards susceptibility to stress, familial predispositions, and personality traits, familial and personality studies suggest a clear-cut differentiation between psychotic disorders with and without symptoms of schizophrenia.
Conclusions. There is a growing body of evidence that identification of ATSD as a distinct entity among other psychotic disorders was justified. Nevertheless, the problem requires further study.