THE ACUTE SCHIZOAFFECTIVE PSYCHOSES

1. A group of 9 cases is presented in which there is a blending of schizophrenic and affective symptoms. 2. The psychosis is characterized by a very sudden onset in a setting of marked emotional turmoil with a distortion of the outside world and presence of false sensory impressions in some cases. The psychosis lasts a few weeks to a few months and is followed by a recovery. 3. Our patients are young people, in the twenties or thirties, in excellent physical health, in whom there is usually a history of a previous attack in late adolescence. 4. The prepsychotic personalities of our patients show the usual variation found in any group of people. 5. A good social and industrial adjustment, the presence of a definite and specific environmental stress, the interest in life and its opportunities, and the absence of any passivity or withdrawal are some of the factors favoring recovery.