The answer is A:
Schizophrenia is characterized by psychotic disturbances that affect such areas of functioning as thought content (e.g., delusions), form of thought (e.g., bizarre or unfocussed thoughts), perception (e.g., hallucinations), affect (e.g., labile mood, flat affect), identity (e.g., confusion regarding self, poor boundaries between self and external world), volition (e.g., loss of motivation), interpersonal relationships (e.g., social withdrawal), and psychomotor behavior (e.g., rigidity, hyperactivity). The diagnosis of schizophrenia requires that the characteristic symptoms be present for at least 1 month (e.g., that there be an active phase) and that functioning be impaired with respect to premorbid functioning for a period of at least 6 months. DSM-IV identifies 5 types of schizophrenia: paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, undifferentiated, and residual, based on their respective prominent features. Onset of schizophrenia is usually in the late teens to mid-30s, and the course of the disease is normally chronic. If an acute first episode occurs and lasts less than 6 months, the diagnosis of Schizophreniform disorder must be made. If the course continues beyond 6 months and all other criteria are met, the diagnosis may be the changed to Schizophrenia of the appropriate subtype.
Schizophreniform disorder is identical in presentation to Schizophrenia, however Schizophreniform disorder, by definition, lasts less than 6 months. The prognosis of Schizophreniform disorder is therefore better than that of Schizophrenia because the former is an acute, rather than chronic, condition.
Childhood schizophrenia is similar to schizophrenia but it has an earlier onset. In addition, a significant difference is that children do not have to specifically show a sustained deterioration from a previous level of functioning to partially fulfill the diagnostic criteria for Schizophrenia. Rather, children must demonstrate a failure to develop normally in social, interpersonal, or affective areas and fulfill the remaining diagnostic criteria for Schizophrenia in order to qualify for a diagnosis of Childhood Schizophrenia.
Schizo-affective disorder is characterized by a combination of the symptoms of a Mood disorder (e.g., depression) and Schizophrenia, in individuals who do not meet the full diagnostic criteria of either disorder. Individuals who are suspected to be suffering from a form a Schizophrenia on first glance, therefore, but who have significant symptoms related to mood, might be more accurately diagnosed as having Schizo-affective disorder. The psychotic features of Schizo-affective disorder are generally more prominent than would be seen in an individual diagnosed with a Mood Disorder with Psychotic Features, and the diagnosis requires that the psychotic symptoms be present for at least 2 weeks during which time there are no mood symptoms. Mood symptoms are, however, required to be present for most of the duration of the illness.
A Brief Psychotic disorder is characterized by the sudden onset of at least 1 psychotic symptom, which lasts for up to, but not exceeding, 1 month. When the symptoms subside, the individual returns to his or her full premorbid level of functioning. Onset of Brief Psychotic disorder frequently occurs after a severe stressor in which case the stressor should be noted, and in cases related to childbirth, symptoms must occur within 4 weeks postpartum. The absence of the recent or heavy use of alcohol or other drugs distinguishes Brief Psychotic disorder from Substance-Induced Psychotic disorder.
