Brief psychotic disorder is what doctors call psychotic symptoms that come on suddenly but last only for a short time -- less than 1 month. After that, people usually recover completely. There are three basic forms of brief psychotic disorders:
1. Brief psychotic disorder with obvious stressor (also called brief reactive psychosis): This type happens shortly after a trauma or major stress, such as the death of a loved one, an accident, assault, or a natural disaster. It's usually a reaction to a very disturbing event.
2. Brief psychotic disorder without obvious stressor: With this type, there is no apparent trauma or stress that triggers it.
3. Brief psychotic disorder with postpartum onset: This type only happens in women, usually within 4 weeks of having a baby.