[Treatment guidelines for non-schizophrenic psychotic disorders?].

OBJECTIVE

To provide an overview of diagnostics, outcome and treatment of "non-schizophrenic psychotic disorders" (ICD-10: delusional disorders, acute and transient psychotic disorders and schizoaffective disorders).

METHODS

Literature was identified by searches in "Medline" and "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews".

RESULTS

The frequency of "non-schizophrenic psychotic disorders" within the whole diagnostic group "schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders" (ICD-10) ranges between 22% and 49%. Patients with these disorders show a more favourable long-term outcome than those with schizophrenia. With regard to therapy, as yet only a small empirical database exists. The comparability of those studies is limited by the use of different diagnostic criteria. There are only few evidence-based treatment guidelines for these disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a substantial need for controlled studies on the treatment of "non-psychotic schizophrenic disorders". Alternatively, clinical guidelines could be based on a dichotomy of affective and schizophrenic disorders or on a dimensional approach.