Table 1:

Practical descriptive nomenclature that could be used for psychosis spectrum illnesses (PSIs): Temporal descriptors, possible causal/modifying features, predominant symptoms, and treatment response.

Temporal Descriptors	Modifying/ causal risk factors	Predominant symptoms	Treatment response
Symptom Onset: --Acute/ Insidious --Childhood/Adolescent/Adult Course: --Single Episode --Intermittent --Remitting/Relapsing --Persistent Illness Phase: --Clinical High Risk --First episode --Recent-onset/Early Phase --Ongoing --Recovered	Significant trauma history Affective diathesis Substance use Traumatic brain injury	Hallucinations Delusions Disorganization Cognitive Impairment Expressive deficits Avolition/asociality Psychomotor symptoms Somatic symptoms Atypical features (e.g. visual hallucinations in the absence of other symptoms) Obsessive-compulsive symptoms Affective dysregulation Mood symptoms Suicidality	D2-antagonist-responsive D2-antagonist nonresponsive Clozapine-responsive Mood stabilizer-responsive Treatment resistant/refractory
Examples of how such a new nomenclature could be applied to 4 different cases, all of whom would meet DSM criteria for “schizophrenia”. Key temporal features are noted first, followed by key modifying descriptors: Persistent PSI, insidious onset; with hallucinations/delusions Intermittent PSI, childhood onset; with strong trauma history; atypical features Intermittent PSI, adult onset, recovery phase; with mood symptoms; D2-antagonist responsive Remitting/relapsing PSI, acute onset during adolescence, ongoing; with comorbid cannabis use; disorganization/avolition/cognitive impairment; clozapine-responsive