Ellen's husband was killed in an automobile accident two weeks ago. Since that time she has had repeated episodes of fleeting hallucinations and delusions. Her behavior has been marked
By periods of incoherent speech, screaming, suicidal and aggressive behavior, and
Disorientation. After about a month, her behavior slowly returns to normal. She would be best
Diagnosed as suffering from ______.
A) schizophreniform disorder
B) schizoid disorder
C) schizotypal disorder
D) brief psychotic disorder

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ellen's behavior fits the criteria for brief psychotic disorder, which is characterized by the sudden onset of psychotic symptoms (such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech) and lasts for less than one month. Her behavior returns to normal after about a month, which is consistent with the typical course of brief psychotic disorder. The other options (schizophreniform disorder, schizoid disorder, and schizotypal disorder) typically have longer durations and/or different symptom patterns than what is described in the scenario.

Ellen's Husband Was Killed in an Automobile Accident Two Weeks