Prodromal schizophrenia help? what exactly is it?

Question

i have been diagnosed with prodromal schizophrenia after two psychotic episodes, however, during both i have showed prodromal, active and residual symtoms during both of the episodes, so if i have had an active psychosis (twice!) how can it be prodromal schizphrenia?

Answer 1

The initial prodrome in psychosis is potentially important for early intervention, identification of biological markers, and understanding the process of becoming psychotic. This article reviews the previous literature on prodrome, including descriptions of symptoms and signs, and patterns and durations of prodromes in both schizophrenic and affective psychoses. Early detailed descriptions, achieved through mainly anecdotal reports, are compared with current conceptualizations, such as the DSM-III-R checklist of mainly behavioral items, which seeks to enhance reliability of measurement but at the expense of adequately describing the full range of phenomena. Current confusion about the nature of prodromal features and concerns regarding the reliability of their measurement are highlighted. This article proposes an alternative model for conceptualizing prodromal changes (the hybrid/interactive model) and discusses the different ways to view this phase. The need for a more systematic evaluation of the prodromal phase in first-episode psychosis is emphasized.

Answer 2

That doesn't seem right.  The prodromal phase occurs before any overt psychotic symptoms.  If the psychotic episode has remitted but you still have some symptoms it should be considered the "Residual Type".  The DSM-IV does not include a "Prodromal" type of schizophrenia.