The clinical relevance of DSM diagnosis category `schizophreniform disorder with good prognostic features is discussed. On the basis of a case-history and the literature the authors demonstrate that this classification has clinical consequences for the patient: a more favourable prognosis compared to schizophrenia, different medication (both lithium and antipsychotics) and the possibility of giving more precise information to the patient.

If one takes into account the clinical limits of the research oriented DSM-III-R, the Axis I diagnosis `schizophreniform disorder with good prognostic features is clinically relevant.