diff --git a/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/legacy/LegacyConfigForm.jsx b/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/legacy/LegacyConfigForm.jsx
index 1e019ff68..983c82a91 100644
--- a/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/legacy/LegacyConfigForm.jsx
+++ b/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/legacy/LegacyConfigForm.jsx
@@ -13,6 +13,26 @@ import BlackoutDatesField, { blackoutDatesRegex } from '../shared/BlackoutDatesF
 import messages from '../shared/messages';
 import AppConfigFormDivider from '../shared/AppConfigFormDivider';
 
+// eslint-disable-next-line func-names
+Yup.addMethod(Yup.object, 'uniqueProperty', function (propertyName, message) {
+  // eslint-disable-next-line func-names
+  return this.test('unique', message, function (discussionTopic) {
+    if (!discussionTopic || !discussionTopic[propertyName]) {
+      return true;
+    }
+    const isDuplicate = this.parent.filter(topic => topic !== discussionTopic)
+      .some(topic => topic[propertyName]?.toLowerCase() === discussionTopic[propertyName].toLowerCase());
+
+    if (isDuplicate) {
+      throw this.createError({
+        path: `${this.path}.${propertyName}`,
+        error: message,
+      });
+    }
+    return true;
+  });
+});
+
 function LegacyConfigForm({
   appConfig, onSubmit, formRef, intl, title,
 }) {
@@ -21,35 +41,17 @@ function LegacyConfigForm({
       blackoutDatesRegex,
       intl.formatMessage(messages.blackoutDatesFormattingError),
     ),
-    discussionTopics: Yup.array()
-      .of(
-        Yup.object().shape({
-          name: Yup.string().required(intl.formatMessage(messages.discussionTopicRequired)),
-        }),
-      ).test('unique', (
-        discussionTopics,
-        testContext,
-        message = intl.formatMessage(messages.discussionTopicNameAlreadyExist),
-      ) => {
-        const uniqueDiscussionTopics = [...new Set(discussionTopics.map(topic => topic.name))];
-        const isUnique = discussionTopics.length === uniqueDiscussionTopics.length;
-        if (isUnique) {
-          return true;
-        }
-
-        const duplicateNameIndex = discussionTopics.findIndex(
-          (topic, index) => topic.name !== uniqueDiscussionTopics[index],
-        );
-        return testContext.createError({
-          path: `[${duplicateNameIndex}].name`,
-          message,
-        });
-      }),
+    discussionTopics: Yup.array(
+      Yup.object({
+        name: Yup.string().required(intl.formatMessage(messages.discussionTopicRequired)),
+      }).uniqueProperty('name', intl.formatMessage(messages.discussionTopicNameAlreadyExist)),
+    ),
   });
 
   return (
     <Formik
       initialValues={appConfig}
+      validateOnChange={false}
       validationSchema={legacyFormValidationSchema}
       onSubmit={(values) => (onSubmit(values))}
     >
@@ -60,35 +62,42 @@ function LegacyConfigForm({
           handleBlur,
           values,
           errors,
+          touched,
         },
-      ) => (
-        <Card className="mb-5 px-4 px-sm-5 pb-5" data-testid="legacyConfigForm">
-          <Form ref={formRef} onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
-            <h3 className="text-primary-500 my-3">{title}</h3>
-            <AppConfigFormDivider thick />
-            <AnonymousPostingFields
-              onBlur={handleBlur}
-              onChange={handleChange}
-              values={values}
-            />
-            <AppConfigFormDivider thick />
-            <DiscussionTopics />
-            <AppConfigFormDivider thick />
-            <DivisionByGroupFields
-              onBlur={handleBlur}
-              onChange={handleChange}
-              appConfig={values}
-            />
-            <AppConfigFormDivider thick />
-            <BlackoutDatesField
-              errors={errors}
-              onBlur={handleBlur}
-              onChange={handleChange}
-              values={values}
-            />
-          </Form>
-        </Card>
-      )}
+      ) => {
+        const { discussionTopics } = values;
+        const discussionTopicErrors = discussionTopics.map((value, index) => Boolean(
+          touched.discussionTopics
+          && touched.discussionTopics[index]?.name
+          && errors.discussionTopics
+          && errors?.discussionTopics[index]?.name,
+        ));
+
+        return (
+          <Card className="mb-5 px-4 px-sm-5 pb-5" data-testid="legacyConfigForm">
+            <Form ref={formRef} onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
+              <h3 className="text-primary-500 my-3">{title}</h3>
+              <AppConfigFormDivider thick />
+              <AnonymousPostingFields
+                onBlur={handleBlur}
+                onChange={handleChange}
+                values={values}
+              />
+              <AppConfigFormDivider thick />
+              <DiscussionTopics discussionTopicErrors={discussionTopicErrors} />
+              <AppConfigFormDivider thick />
+              <DivisionByGroupFields discussionTopicErrors={discussionTopicErrors} />
+              <AppConfigFormDivider thick />
+              <BlackoutDatesField
+                errors={errors}
+                onBlur={handleBlur}
+                onChange={handleChange}
+                values={values}
+              />
+            </Form>
+          </Card>
+        );
+      }}
     </Formik>
   );
 }
diff --git a/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/DivisionByGroupFields.jsx b/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/DivisionByGroupFields.jsx
index 69c023c65..a213740c1 100644
--- a/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/DivisionByGroupFields.jsx
+++ b/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/DivisionByGroupFields.jsx
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import React, { useEffect } from 'react';
-import { useDispatch } from 'react-redux';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import { injectIntl, intlShape } from '@edx/frontend-platform/i18n';
 import { Form, TransitionReplace } from '@edx/paragon';
@@ -7,14 +6,14 @@ import { FieldArray, useFormikContext } from 'formik';
 import FormSwitchGroup from '../../../../../generic/FormSwitchGroup';
 import messages from './messages';
 import AppConfigFormDivider from './AppConfigFormDivider';
-import { updateDividedDiscussionsIds } from '../../../data/slice';
-import { updateModel } from '../../../../../generic/model-store';
 
-function DivisionByGroupFields({
-  onBlur, onChange, intl, appConfig,
-}) {
-  const dispatch = useDispatch();
-  const { setFieldValue } = useFormikContext();
+const DivisionByGroupFields = ({ intl, discussionTopicErrors }) => {
+  const {
+    handleChange,
+    handleBlur,
+    values: appConfig,
+    setFieldValue,
+  } = useFormikContext();
   const {
     divideDiscussionIds,
     discussionTopics,
@@ -22,10 +21,6 @@ function DivisionByGroupFields({
     divideCourseTopicsByCohorts,
   } = appConfig;
 
-  useEffect(() => {
-    dispatch(updateDividedDiscussionsIds({ divideDiscussionIds }));
-  }, [divideDiscussionIds]);
-
   useEffect(() => {
     const discussionTopicIds = discussionTopics.map(
       (topic) => topic.id,
@@ -46,13 +41,6 @@ function DivisionByGroupFields({
       setFieldValue('divideDiscussionIds', []);
       setFieldValue('divideCourseTopicsByCohorts', false);
     }
-
-    const {
-      divideDiscussionIds: courseDividedDiscussionsIds,
-      discussionTopics: courseDiscussionTopics,
-      ...payload
-    } = appConfig;
-    dispatch(updateModel({ modelType: 'appConfigs', model: payload }));
   }, [
     divideByCohorts,
     divideCourseTopicsByCohorts,
@@ -73,7 +61,7 @@ function DivisionByGroupFields({
     if (!checked) {
       setFieldValue('divideDiscussionIds', []);
     }
-    onChange(event);
+    handleChange(event);
   };
 
   return (
@@ -82,9 +70,9 @@ function DivisionByGroupFields({
         {intl.formatMessage(messages.divisionByGroup)}
       </h5>
       <FormSwitchGroup
-        onChange={onChange}
+        onChange={handleChange}
         className="mt-2"
-        onBlur={onBlur}
+        onBlur={handleBlur}
         id="divideByCohorts"
         checked={divideByCohorts}
         label={intl.formatMessage(messages.divideByCohortsLabel)}
@@ -96,7 +84,7 @@ function DivisionByGroupFields({
             <AppConfigFormDivider />
             <FormSwitchGroup
               onChange={(event) => handleDivideCourseTopicsByCohortsToggle(event)}
-              onBlur={onBlur}
+              onBlur={handleBlur}
               className="ml-4 mt-3"
               id="divideCourseTopicsByCohorts"
               checked={divideCourseTopicsByCohorts}
@@ -113,11 +101,11 @@ function DivisionByGroupFields({
                         <Form.CheckboxSet
                           name="dividedTopics"
                           onChange={(event) => handleCheckBoxToggle(event, push, remove)}
-                          onBlur={onBlur}
+                          onBlur={handleBlur}
                           defaultValue={divideDiscussionIds}
                         >
-                          {discussionTopics.map((topic) => (
-                            topic.name ? (
+                          {discussionTopics.map((topic, index) => (
+                            topic.name && !discussionTopicErrors[index] ? (
                               <Form.Checkbox
                                 key={`checkbox-${topic.id}`}
                                 id={`checkbox-${topic.id}`}
@@ -143,21 +131,11 @@ function DivisionByGroupFields({
       </TransitionReplace>
     </>
   );
-}
+};
 
 DivisionByGroupFields.propTypes = {
-  onBlur: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
-  onChange: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
   intl: intlShape.isRequired,
-  appConfig: PropTypes.shape({
-    divideByCohorts: PropTypes.bool,
-    divideCourseTopicsByCohorts: PropTypes.bool,
-    discussionTopics: PropTypes.arrayOf(PropTypes.shape({
-      name: PropTypes.string,
-      id: PropTypes.string,
-    })),
-    divideDiscussionIds: PropTypes.arrayOf(PropTypes.string),
-  }).isRequired,
+  discussionTopicErrors: PropTypes.arrayOf(PropTypes.bool).isRequired,
 };
 
 export default injectIntl(DivisionByGroupFields);
diff --git a/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/discussion-topics/DiscussionTopics.jsx b/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/discussion-topics/DiscussionTopics.jsx
index 0c6210280..973fd34e0 100644
--- a/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/discussion-topics/DiscussionTopics.jsx
+++ b/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/discussion-topics/DiscussionTopics.jsx
@@ -1,33 +1,33 @@
-import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
+import React, { useEffect } from 'react';
 import { useDispatch } from 'react-redux';
 import { Add } from '@edx/paragon/icons';
 import { Button } from '@edx/paragon';
 import { injectIntl, intlShape } from '@edx/frontend-platform/i18n';
 import { FieldArray, useFormikContext } from 'formik';
 import { v4 as uuid } from 'uuid';
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 
 import messages from '../messages';
 import TopicItem from './TopicItem';
-import { removeModel, updateModels } from '../../../../../../generic/model-store';
-import { updateDiscussionTopicIds } from '../../../../data/slice';
+import { updateValidationStatus } from '../../../../data/slice';
 
-const DiscussionTopics = ({ intl }) => {
-  const dispatch = useDispatch();
-  const { values: appConfig, setFieldValue } = useFormikContext();
+const DiscussionTopics = ({ intl, discussionTopicErrors }) => {
+  const {
+    values: appConfig,
+    setFieldValue,
+    validateForm,
+  } = useFormikContext();
   const { discussionTopics, divideDiscussionIds } = appConfig;
-  const [topics, setTopics] = useState(discussionTopics);
+  const dispatch = useDispatch();
 
+  const isFormInvalid = discussionTopicErrors.some((error) => error === true);
   useEffect(() => {
-    const updatedDiscussionTopicIds = discussionTopics.map(topic => topic.id);
+    dispatch(updateValidationStatus({ hasError: isFormInvalid }));
+  }, [isFormInvalid]);
 
-    setTopics(discussionTopics);
-    dispatch(updateDiscussionTopicIds({ updatedDiscussionTopicIds }));
-    dispatch(updateModels({ modelType: 'discussionTopics', models: discussionTopics }));
-  }, [discussionTopics]);
-
-  const handleTopicDelete = (topicIndex, topicId, remove) => {
-    remove(topicIndex);
-    dispatch(removeModel({ modelType: 'discussionTopics', id: topicId }));
+  const handleTopicDelete = async (topicIndex, topicId, remove) => {
+    await remove(topicIndex);
+    validateForm();
     const updatedDividedDiscussionsIds = divideDiscussionIds.filter(
       (id) => id !== topicId,
     );
@@ -56,16 +56,15 @@ const DiscussionTopics = ({ intl }) => {
           name="discussionTopics"
           render={({ push, remove }) => (
             <div>
-              {
-                topics.map((topic, index) => (
-                  <TopicItem
-                    {...topic}
-                    key={`topic-${topic.id}`}
-                    index={index}
-                    onDelete={() => handleTopicDelete(index, topic.id, remove)}
-                  />
-                ))
-              }
+              {discussionTopics.map((topic, index) => (
+                <TopicItem
+                  {...topic}
+                  key={`topic-${topic.id}`}
+                  index={index}
+                  onDelete={() => handleTopicDelete(index, topic.id, remove)}
+                  hasError={discussionTopicErrors[index]}
+                />
+              ))}
               <div className="mb-4">
                 <Button
                   onClick={() => addNewTopic(push)}
@@ -86,6 +85,7 @@ const DiscussionTopics = ({ intl }) => {
 
 DiscussionTopics.propTypes = {
   intl: intlShape.isRequired,
+  discussionTopicErrors: PropTypes.arrayOf(PropTypes.bool).isRequired,
 };
 
 export default injectIntl(DiscussionTopics);
diff --git a/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/discussion-topics/DiscussionTopics.test.jsx b/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/discussion-topics/DiscussionTopics.test.jsx
index 726926859..752d223cd 100644
--- a/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/discussion-topics/DiscussionTopics.test.jsx
+++ b/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/discussion-topics/DiscussionTopics.test.jsx
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ const appConfig = {
   blackoutDates: '[]',
 };
 
+const discussionTopicErrors = [false, false];
 const courseId = 'course-v1:edX+TestX+Test_Course';
 
 describe('DiscussionTopics', () => {
@@ -65,10 +66,8 @@ describe('DiscussionTopics', () => {
     const wrapper = render(
       <AppProvider store={store}>
         <IntlProvider locale="en">
-          <Formik
-            initialValues={data}
-          >
-            <DiscussionTopics />
+          <Formik initialValues={data}>
+            <DiscussionTopics discussionTopicErrors={discussionTopicErrors} />
           </Formik>
         </IntlProvider>
       </AppProvider>,
diff --git a/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/discussion-topics/TopicItem.jsx b/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/discussion-topics/TopicItem.jsx
index 4e9c7b6bb..8269a3d64 100644
--- a/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/discussion-topics/TopicItem.jsx
+++ b/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/discussion-topics/TopicItem.jsx
@@ -1,77 +1,56 @@
-import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
-import { useDispatch } from 'react-redux';
-import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
-import {
-  Collapsible, Form, Card, Button, IconButton, Icon,
-} from '@edx/paragon';
+import React, { useState } from 'react';
 import { injectIntl, intlShape } from '@edx/frontend-platform/i18n';
-import { useFormikContext } from 'formik';
-import { ExpandLess, ExpandMore, Delete } from '@edx/paragon/icons';
-import messages from '../messages';
 import {
-  updateValidationStatus,
-} from '../../../../data/slice';
+  Button,
+  Card,
+  Collapsible,
+  Form,
+  Icon,
+  IconButton,
+  TransitionReplace,
+} from '@edx/paragon';
+import { Delete, ExpandLess, ExpandMore } from '@edx/paragon/icons';
+import { useFormikContext } from 'formik';
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
+import messages from '../messages';
 
 const TopicItem = ({
-  intl, index, name, onDelete, id,
+  intl, index, name, onDelete, id, hasError,
 }) => {
-  const [title, setTitle] = useState(name);
+  const { handleChange, handleBlur, errors } = useFormikContext();
+  const [inFocus, setInFocus] = useState(false);
   const [showDeletePopup, setShowDeletePopup] = useState(false);
-  const [collapseIsOpen, setCollapseIsOpen] = useState(!name.length);
-
-  const {
-    handleChange,
-    handleBlur,
-    touched,
-    errors,
-  } = useFormikContext();
-  const dispatch = useDispatch();
+  const [collapseIsOpen, setCollapseOpen] = useState();
   const isGeneralTopic = id === 'course';
 
-  useEffect(() => {
-    setTitle(name);
-  }, [name]);
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (Object.keys(touched).length) {
-      dispatch(updateValidationStatus({ hasError: Object.keys(errors).length > 0 }));
-    }
-  }, [errors, touched]);
-
-  const isInvalidTopicNameKey = Boolean(
-    (touched.discussionTopics && touched.discussionTopics[index]?.name)
-    && (errors.discussionTopics && errors?.discussionTopics[index]?.name),
-  );
-
-  const isExistingName = Boolean(
-    (touched.discussionTopics && touched.discussionTopics[index]?.name)
-    && (errors && errors[index]?.name),
-  );
-
   const getHeading = (isOpen = false) => {
     let heading;
     if (isGeneralTopic && isOpen) {
       heading = (
         <div className="h4 py-2 mr-auto">
           {intl.formatMessage(messages.renameGeneralTopic)}
-          <div className="small text-muted mt-2">{intl.formatMessage(messages.generalTopicHelp)}</div>
+          <div className="small text-muted mt-2">
+            {intl.formatMessage(messages.generalTopicHelp)}
+          </div>
         </div>
       );
     } else if (isOpen) {
-      heading = <span className="h4 py-2 mr-auto">{intl.formatMessage(messages.configureAdditionalTopic)}</span>;
+      heading = (
+        <span className="h4 py-2 mr-auto">
+          {intl.formatMessage(messages.configureAdditionalTopic)}
+        </span>
+      );
     } else {
-      heading = <span className="py-2">{title}</span>;
+      heading = <span className="py-2">{name}</span>;
     }
     return heading;
   };
 
   const handleToggle = (isOpen) => {
-    if (!isOpen) {
-      const inputHasError = !name.length || isExistingName || isInvalidTopicNameKey;
-      setCollapseIsOpen(inputHasError);
-    } else {
-      setCollapseIsOpen(isOpen);
+    if (!isOpen && (!name.length || hasError)) {
+      return setCollapseOpen(true);
     }
+    return setCollapseOpen(isOpen);
   };
 
   const deleteDiscussionTopic = (event) => {
@@ -79,7 +58,18 @@ const TopicItem = ({
     setShowDeletePopup(true);
   };
 
-  const deletetopic = (
+  const renderFormFeedback = (message, messageType = 'default') => (
+    <Form.Control.Feedback type={messageType} hasIcon={false}>
+      <div className="small">{message}</div>
+    </Form.Control.Feedback>
+  );
+
+  const handleFocusOut = (event) => {
+    handleBlur(event);
+    setInFocus(false);
+  };
+
+  const deleteTopicPopup = (
     <Card className="rounded mb-3 p-1">
       <Card.Body>
         <div className="text-primary-500 mb-2 h4">
@@ -89,10 +79,7 @@ const TopicItem = ({
           {intl.formatMessage(messages.discussionTopicDeletionHelp)}
         </Card.Text>
         <div className="d-flex justify-content-end">
-          <Button
-            variant="tertiary"
-            onClick={() => setShowDeletePopup(false)}
-          >
+          <Button variant="tertiary" onClick={() => setShowDeletePopup(false)}>
             {intl.formatMessage(messages.cancelButton)}
           </Button>
           <Button
@@ -109,91 +96,92 @@ const TopicItem = ({
 
   return (
     <>
-      {
-        showDeletePopup ? (
-          deletetopic
-        ) : (
-          <Collapsible.Advanced
-            className="collapsible-card rounded mb-3 px-3 py-2"
-            onToggle={handleToggle}
-            defaultOpen={!title}
-            open={collapseIsOpen}
-            id={id}
+      {showDeletePopup ? (
+        deleteTopicPopup
+      ) : (
+        <Collapsible.Advanced
+          className="collapsible-card rounded mb-3 px-3 py-2"
+          onToggle={handleToggle}
+          defaultOpen={!name || hasError}
+          open={collapseIsOpen}
+          id={id}
+        >
+          <Collapsible.Trigger
+            className="collapsible-trigger d-flex border-0"
+            style={{ justifyContent: 'unset' }}
           >
-            <Collapsible.Trigger
-              className="collapsible-trigger d-flex border-0"
-              style={{ justifyContent: 'unset' }}
-            >
-              <Collapsible.Visible whenClosed>
-                {getHeading(false)}
-                <div className="ml-auto">
-                  <IconButton
-                    alt={intl.formatMessage(messages.expandAltText)}
-                    src={ExpandMore}
-                    iconAs={Icon}
-                    onClick={() => {}}
-                    variant="dark"
-                  />
-                </div>
-              </Collapsible.Visible>
-              <Collapsible.Visible whenOpen>
-                {getHeading(true)}
-                {
-                  !isGeneralTopic && (
-                    <div className="pr-4 border-right">
-                      <IconButton
-                        onClick={deleteDiscussionTopic}
-                        alt={intl.formatMessage(messages.deleteAltText)}
-                        src={Delete}
-                        iconAs={Icon}
-                        variant="dark"
-                      />
-                    </div>
-                  )
-                }
-                <div className="pl-4">
-                  <IconButton
-                    alt={intl.formatMessage(messages.collapseAltText)}
-                    src={ExpandLess}
-                    iconAs={Icon}
-                    onClick={() => {}}
-                    variant="dark"
-                  />
-                </div>
-              </Collapsible.Visible>
-            </Collapsible.Trigger>
-            <Collapsible.Body className="collapsible-body rounded px-0">
-              <Form.Group
-                controlId={`discussionTopics.${index}.name`}
-                isInvalid={isInvalidTopicNameKey}
-                className="m-2"
-              >
-                <Form.Control
-                  floatingLabel="Topic name"
-                  onChange={handleChange}
-                  onBlur={handleBlur}
-                  value={name}
-                  controlClassName="bg-white"
+            <Collapsible.Visible whenClosed>
+              {getHeading(false)}
+              <div className="ml-auto">
+                <IconButton
+                  alt={intl.formatMessage(messages.expandAltText)}
+                  src={ExpandMore}
+                  iconAs={Icon}
+                  onClick={() => {}}
+                  variant="dark"
                 />
-                {isInvalidTopicNameKey && (
-                  <Form.Control.Feedback type="invalid" hasIcon={false}>
-                    <div className="small">
-                      {intl.formatMessage(messages.discussionTopicRequired)}
-                    </div>
-                  </Form.Control.Feedback>
+              </div>
+            </Collapsible.Visible>
+            <Collapsible.Visible whenOpen>
+              {getHeading(true)}
+              {!isGeneralTopic && (
+                <div className="pr-4 border-right">
+                  <IconButton
+                    onClick={deleteDiscussionTopic}
+                    alt={intl.formatMessage(messages.deleteAltText)}
+                    src={Delete}
+                    iconAs={Icon}
+                    variant="dark"
+                  />
+                </div>
+              )}
+              <div className="pl-4">
+                <IconButton
+                  alt={intl.formatMessage(messages.collapseAltText)}
+                  src={ExpandLess}
+                  iconAs={Icon}
+                  onClick={() => {}}
+                  variant="dark"
+                />
+              </div>
+            </Collapsible.Visible>
+          </Collapsible.Trigger>
+          <Collapsible.Body className="collapsible-body rounded px-0">
+            <Form.Group
+              controlId={`discussionTopics.${index}.name`}
+              isInvalid={hasError && !inFocus}
+              className="m-2"
+            >
+              <Form.Control
+                floatingLabel="Topic name"
+                onChange={handleChange}
+                onBlur={(event) => handleFocusOut(event)}
+                value={name}
+                controlClassName="bg-white"
+                onFocus={() => setInFocus(true)}
+              />
+              <TransitionReplace key={id} className="mt-1">
+                {inFocus ? (
+                  <React.Fragment key="open">
+                    {renderFormFeedback(intl.formatMessage(messages.addTopicHelpText))}
+                  </React.Fragment>
+                ) : (
+                  <React.Fragment key="closed" />
                 )}
-                {isExistingName && (
-                  <Form.Control.Feedback type="invalid" hasIcon={false}>
-                    <div className="small">
-                      {intl.formatMessage(messages.discussionTopicNameAlreadyExist)}
-                    </div>
-                  </Form.Control.Feedback>
+              </TransitionReplace>
+              <TransitionReplace key={`${name}-${id}`}>
+                {hasError && !inFocus ? (
+                  <React.Fragment key="open">
+                    {renderFormFeedback(errors?.discussionTopics[index].name, 'invalid')}
+                  </React.Fragment>
+                ) : (
+                  <React.Fragment key="closed" />
                 )}
-              </Form.Group>
-            </Collapsible.Body>
-          </Collapsible.Advanced>
-        )
-      }
+              </TransitionReplace>
+            </Form.Group>
+          </Collapsible.Body>
+        </Collapsible.Advanced>
+      )}
     </>
   );
 };
@@ -204,6 +192,7 @@ TopicItem.propTypes = {
   index: PropTypes.number.isRequired,
   onDelete: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
   intl: intlShape.isRequired,
+  hasError: PropTypes.bool.isRequired,
 };
 
 export default injectIntl(TopicItem);
diff --git a/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/messages.js b/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/messages.js
index 7bd565104..898a8e416 100644
--- a/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/messages.js
+++ b/src/pages-and-resources/discussions/app-config-form/apps/shared/messages.js
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ const messages = defineMessages({
   },
   addTopicButton: {
     id: 'authoring.discussions.addTopicButton',
-    defaultMessage: 'Add Topic',
+    defaultMessage: 'Add topic',
     description: 'Button label when Add a new discussion topic.',
   },
   deleteButton: {
@@ -162,6 +162,11 @@ const messages = defineMessages({
     defaultMessage: 'Configure topic',
     description: 'Label for Additional topic allowing user to configure additional topic name',
   },
+  addTopicHelpText: {
+    id: 'authoring.discussions.addTopicHelpText',
+    defaultMessage: 'Choose a unique name for your topic',
+    description: 'Help text for input field in adding a discussion topic',
+  },
   // Blackout dates
   blackoutDates: {
     id: 'authoring.discussions.blackoutDates',