**8. Definition of prodrome**

So, the prodrome is a distinct period in the evolution of the first psychotic episode, mostly unknown or minimized as importance. The onset's particularities and the evolution of the first psychotic episode are involved in the short-, medium-, and long-term prognosis. The recovery depends on the early initiation of therapeutic strategies.

The prodrome was originally defined as the prepsychotic period preceding a relapse in patients already diagnosed with psychosis. Subsequently a distinction was made between the initial and the relapse prodrome [16].

Other definitions are [16]:


All definitions of prodrome phase have in common the presence of symptoms and the temporal relationship with the onset of psychosis, with two important practical consequences. The first implication is the person being symptomatic during the prodrome will ask for medical help, so it is possible to establish a diagnosis and a therapeutic strategy. The second implication is the person can develop the disease after the end of the prodromal phase, suggesting that the transition from prodrome to frank psychosis may be detectable.
