Duration of remitting psychoses with acute onset. Implications for ICD-10.

<bold>Background: </bold>The acute and transient psychotic disorders (ATPD) in ICD-10 advanced the nosology of remitting psychoses with acute onset. But the proposed criteria for ATPD--especially in regard to duration--are tentative and need to be validated.<bold>Aims: </bold>To evaluate: (a) the duration of remitting psychoses with acute onset; (b) the applicability of the ATPD criteria for these cases; and (c) differences in duration and ATPD diagnoses across sociocultural settings.<bold>Method: </bold>Data from the World Health Organization Determinants of Outcome study were used.<bold>Results: </bold>The 98 cases of remitting psychoses with acute onset had a modal duration of 2-4 months, with 43% falling in this range. Mainly because of this, few met the ATPD criteria. Duration and diagnostic findings were similar across settings.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>ATPD criteria need refinement, especially in regard to duration. Further studies aimed at early detection and assessment of onset and duration of these disorders are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]