An Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorder in a Male Victim of Rape: A Case Report and a Nosological Question

Abstract

Stress has a significant role in developing Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorder (ATPD). The condition resolves after stress termination without relapse for long years in many cases. So this kind of psychosis can be different from other psychosis in terms of etiology and prognosis. We report an 18-year-old male patient with an acute and transient psychotic disorder who experienced a psychotic episode after a rape. His psychosis was remitted without any antipsychotic medications. This case raises an important question: Why should this kind of psychosis be classified under a psychotic branch of psychiatric disorders classification and not under more benign disorders such as adjustment disorder.

Keywords

• Psychosis
• Psychotic Disorder
• Rape
• Violence
• Sex Offenses
• Adjustment disorder