prodromal

American  

[proh-droh-muhl] / proʊˈdroʊ məl /

adjective

1. Pathology. (of a symptom or series of symptoms) preceding the more obvious, diagnosable symptoms of an illness or disease.

   Using these prodromal symptoms, trained psychologists or physicians can identify people at a higher risk of developing psychosis and begin early treatment.

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Etymology

Origin of prodromal

First recorded in 1710–20; prodrom(e) ( def. ) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

For Sharon Roman, who has lived with MS for 25 years, better defining this prodromal period could have huge benefits for patients.

From Science Daily • Sep. 25, 2023

Yet today, prodromal Parkinson's patients still can't get diagnosed until developing the characteristic motor deficits of clinical Parkinson's disease.

From Salon • Aug. 13, 2023

These advances contribute to a growing appreciation of the so-called prodromal phase of Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative disorders—when preliminary signs appear, but a definitive diagnosis has not yet been made.

From Scientific American • Jan. 24, 2023

By January of 2019, when my prodromal symptoms gave way to a full-blown psychotic break, they’d all gotten the message from real-life health care professionals that confronting delusions is unproductive and erodes trust.

From Slate • May 24, 2022

These have been called the prodromal or initial period, which is also, because of the set of symptoms usually most prominent in it, often called the hypochondriacal stage of the disease.

From Essays In Pastoral Medicine by ?Malley, Austin

Related Words

• introductory
• previous
• prior