Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders: Lifespan Perspectives

The category of Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders includes several manifestations of psychosis, all marked by a distorted perception of, or disconnection from, reality. These disorders are heterogeneous in presentation and course, with psychotic symptoms emerging at different times throughout the lifespan depending on biological, environmental, and interactional factors. Schizophrenia is the hallmark psychotic disorder, often discussed as a unitary diagnostic concept despite evidence that risk factors, presentation, course, and outcomes vary across the lifespan. The lifespan perspectives of schizophrenia spectrum disorders are more inclusive, considering different presentations of psychotic symptoms across life stages and describing common symptom trajectories within a developmental context.

Clinical Features and Etiology

The most well-known and widely studied schizophrenia spectrum disorders include schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder (schizophrenia concurrent with a major mood ...

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