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Keynote Lecture 3

Research on Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome (DSM V) and Latent Schizophrenia
(ICD 10): Implications for Early Detection and Intervention

Prof. Ming-Tso Tsuang

Distinguished University Professor, University of California, San Diego

Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome (APS) describes a condition with recent onset of mild,
psychotic like symptoms with clinically relevant distress and disability. Existing diagnostic criteria
of schizophrenia lack specific information which describe and differentiate its early stages. To
address this, and based on the research findings of the various early psychosis programs, the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM V) included a new
category: “Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome (APS)” within Section II: Diagnostic Criteria and Codes
in addition to the Appendix (under Conditions for Further Study) of DSM V. Furthermore, within
the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10 Code:F21), APS is now classified under the
“Latent Schizophrenia” category and is being considered for either the ICD-11 chapter on “Factors
influencing health status and encounters with health services” or the chapter on “Symptoms, signs
and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings”. The inclusion of APS within the DSM V and ICD
10 shall encourage more research and clinical application in order to verify its criteria. In the DSM
V and ICD context, clinicians can use this category to identify individuals who are at high risk of
serious mental illness, and plan suitable interventions that specifically target the very early stages
aiming towards identification, intervention and ultimately prevention of psychosis manifestation. In
this presentation, APS criteria will be elucidated and its potential clinical applications will be
tendered. The implications of APS inclusion in DSM V and ICD 10 will be discussed while recent
new findings on APS in neurobiological and psychosocial research will be presented in detail and
discussed for the edification of both clinicians in mental health disciplines and interested researchers.