Among the varieties of psychopathological experience, the acute psychotic break should be described. This presentation notes the lack of description in the literature of the events which lead to and culminate in a psychotic episode. A phenomenological account is offered. The description of the pre-psychotic and psychotic break presented here has some resemblance to a dream state. Nightmares and the psychotic break also have similar qualities. Through systematic interviews 23 adult, male schizophrenic patients described their first psychotic break. If over 50% of the sample commented on a symptom, it was included in the interpretation.
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