A comparative study of reactive psychosis and acute psychosis without precipitating stress.

A study was carried out to compare the antecedent factors, phenomenology, treatment required and prognosis in 30 cases of Reactive Psychosis and 30 cases of Acute Psychosis without antecedent stress, matched on age and sex. Both groups were followed up for 7 months. It was found that the two groups differed markedly on several dimensions: The Reactive Psychotics had more hysterical and affective features, more vulnerable personality, higher stress experience in their life prior to illness and relatively better prognosis compared to the Acute Psychotics. The difference still remained when those in either of the groups who at the end of the follow-up turned out to be schizophrenics or suffering from affective disorder were excluded from analysis.