Predictors of the evolution towards schizophrenia or mood disorder in patients with schizophreniform disorder

In this study, 56 patients affected by schizophreniform disorder (SFD), as their first lifetime mental disorder, were re-evaluated 7.9 ± 4.7 yrs (2–17 yrs) after their first hospitalization.At follow-up, schizophrenia (SC) was diagnosed in 25 patients (46%), a mood disorder (MD) in 19 (35%), a non-SC psychotic disorder in 10 (18%) and no disorder in 2 (4%).The evolution towards SC was predicted by the presence of blunted affect (OR: 1.88) and by poor pre-morbid functioning (OR: 1.10) at the index hospitalization.Our data suggest that SFD may represent the first psychotic presentation of different disorders and the evolution towards SC or a MD seems to be influenced by the pre-morbid level of functioning and by the presence of blunted affect.