[Prodromal period of the first episode of schizophrenia].

The article is a review of the literature on the prodromal period of the first episode of schizophrenia. According to the literature, the first episode of schizophrenia is usually preceded by a few years of prodromal period including non-specific behavioural and affective disturbances as well as psychotic-like and prepsychotic symptoms. The concepts formulated so far concerning a definition of prodromal symptoms were discussed. The data were summarized on clinical characteristics of the prodromal period such as symptomatology, frequency of symptoms, dynamics of changes and the period of occurrence of the prodromal symptoms. Four hypothetical models of transformation of prodromal symptoms into psychotic process were described. Also, the importance of the prodromal symptoms of the first episode of schizophrenia for early diagnosis and therapy of schizophrenia was discussed with regard to currently performed programs of early interventions in schizophrenia.