Abstract
This paper reviews the literature concerning the phenomenology and duration of psychosis in borderline patients and presents empirical findings concerning a sample of eight borderline women with psychosis. Little work has yet been done to establish the duration of so called “transient psychotic episodes,” but the clinical consensus up to now has been that such episodes last less than two weeks. The patients in the current study experienced psychotic symptoms lasting between three weeks and four months. They were characterized by hysterical features, visual disturbances, and a possibile history of sexual trauma. The diagnostic and therapeutic implications of these prolonged psychotic episodes is discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hoch P, Polatin P: Pseudoneurotic forms of schizophrenia.Psychiat Q 23:248–276, 1949.
Kernberg O.Borderline Conditions and Pathological Narcissism. New York, Jason Aronson Press, 1975.
Gunderson J, Singer M: Defining borderline patients: an overview.Am J Psychiat 132:1–10, 1975.
Gunderson J: Psychotic regressions in borderline patients, in borderline personality disorder.Am Psychiat Press (in press).
Cavenar JO Jr, Sullivan JL, Maltbie AA: A clinical note on hysterical psychosis.Am J Psychiat 136:830–832, 1979.
Pincus J: Hysteria presenting to the neurologist. In A Roy (Ed),Hysteria. New York, John Wiley and Sons, 1982.
American Psychiatric Association:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition. Washington, D.C., American Psychiatric Association, 1980.
Halbreich U, Endicott G: Definition and criteria for diagnosis of transient psychosis. In JP Tupin, U Halbreich, JJ Pena (Eds),Transient Psychosis. New York, Brunner/Mazel, 1984.
Martin P: Dynamic considerations of the hysterical psychosis.Am J Psychiat 128:745–748, 1971.
Hoch P, Cattell J: The course and outcome of pseudoneurotic schizophrenia.Am J Psychiat 119:106–115, 1962.
Langfeldt G:Diagnosis and prognosis of schizophrenia. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, Oslo, Vol. 53, June 14, 1960.
McCade MS, Fowler RC, Cadoret RJ, et al: Symptom differences in schizophrenia with good and poor prognosis.Am J Psychiat 128:1239–1243, 1972.
Spiegel D, Fink R: Hysterical psychosis and hypnotizability.Am J Psychiat 136:777–781, 1979.
Strauss JS, Carpenter WT Jr: Characteristic symptoms and outcome in schizophrenia.Arch Gen Psychiatry 30:429–434, 1974.
Pope HG, Lipinski JF, Cohen BM.. ‘Schizoaffective disorder’: an invalid diagnosis? a comparison of schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia and affective disorder.Am J Psychiat 137:921–927, 1980.
Stephens JH, Astrup C: Prognosis in ‘process’ and ‘non-process’ schizophrenia.Am J Psychiat 119945–953, 1963.
Helzer JE, Brockington IF, Kendell RE: Predictive validity of DSM III and Freighner definitions of schizophrenia.Arch Gen Psychiatry 38:791–797, 1981.
Frosch J: The psychotic character.. clinical psychiatric considerations.Psychiat Q 38:81–96, 1964.
Jacobsen E:The Self and the Object World. New York, International Universities Press, 1964.
Hollender MH, Hirsch SJ: Hysterical psychosis.Am J Psychiat 120:1066–1074, 1964.
Hirsch SJ, Hollender MH: Hysterical psychosis: classification of the concept.Am J Psychiat 125:909–915, 1969.
Siomopoulos V: Hysterical psychosis: psychopathological aspects. Sr J Med Psychol 44:95–100, 1971.
Fenton GW: Hysterical alterations of consciousness. In A Roy (Ed),Hysteria. New York, John Wiley and Sons, 1982.
Varley C: Schizophreniform psychoses in mentally retarded adolescent girls following sexual assault.Am J Psychiat 141..593–595, 1984.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lotterman, A.C. Prolonged psychotic states in borderline personality disorder. Psych Quart 57, 33–46 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01064975
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01064975