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

"Naturally occurring circRNAs have the potential to serve as biomarkers for specific brain cells implicated in early, prodromal stages of a disease," Scherzer said.

From Science Daily • Sep. 18, 2023

Take, for example, the prodromal stage of Parkinson's disease, which can last for decades prior to clinically-diagnosed Parkinson's.

From Salon • Aug. 13, 2023

“It’s the strongest clinical prodromal marker we have.”

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

In still other cases, unpleasant delusions and elementary hallucinations precede the stupor, which may follow immediately after this prodromal state or may be again preceded by a short attack of mania with clouded consciousness.

From Studies in Forensic Psychiatry by Glueck, Bernard

Related Words

• introductory
• previous
• prior