Testpsychologische Untersuchungen in Basisstadien und reinen Residualzust�nden schizophrener Erkrankungen

Abstract

Three groups of schizophrenic diseases which cannot be differentiated with regard to psychopathological cross-section syndromes were investigated by psychological tests: one group (22 cases) of reversible postpsychotic basic stages and two groups of pure residual syndromes with an average duration of disease of 9.3 years (20 cases) and 17.5 years (21 cases). All three groups revealed findings deviating significantly from the norm. The pathological values were most marked in the performance scale of HAWIE (Hamburg-WAIS), which in all groups showed a significant lowering of performance compared with verbal scale (which corresponds approximately to the premorbid intelligence level), in "KVT" and in measures of sensory-motor reaction time by "Wiener Reaktionsgerät", less in "Benton test" and in examination with "Schreibdruckwaage". Reversible postpsychotic asthenic basic stages could not be significantly differentiated in psychological tests from pure residual syndromes which were comparable with regard to sex and age at the onset of the disease and--in the pure residues group of 1980--with regard to age and school success. The decrease of performance in the reaction test, in the concentration test of Abels, and in the averbal part of HAWIE correlated with symptoms and factors which were found with the help of "Frankfurter Beschwerdefragebogen" in the same patients. This positive correlation was more distinct in the reversible postpsychotic basic stages than in pure residues. The findings support the global hypothesis that the deficiencies of schizophrenic stages with a component of reversible or irreversible pure potential reduction are based on disturbances of perception and interpretation of information. Also that there are no fundamental differences between cerebro-organic or psychosyndromes of schizophrenic diseases determined by the dynamic and cognitive disorders of pure deficiency.

Cognitive Disturbances in Chronic Schizophrenia: Formal Thought Disorder and Basic Symptoms

“…4; max. 68; s = 19.36, mean = 32.8) showed no statistically significant cor relation to education, duration o f illness, medication and present state o f employment or social functioning [Hasse-Sander et al, 1982;Hartwich, 1983].…”

Cognitive Dysfunction at Baseline Predicts Symptomatic 1-Year Outcome in First-Episode Schizophrenics

“…However, there is evidence that the relationship between the FCQ and tests tapping objective cognitive disturbances is modulated by the length of the schizophrenic illness, i.e. severely impaired schizophrenics are less aware of their disturbances [12]. It was found that strong correlations between the FCQ and several neuropsychological tests emerged only for patients with a recent onset of illness [12].…”

“…severely impaired schizophrenics are less aware of their disturbances [12]. It was found that strong correlations between the FCQ and several neuropsychological tests emerged only for patients with a recent onset of illness [12]. Therefore, although the diagnostic specifity of basic symptoms has been questioned by some authors [13][14][15], the instrument seems to be an appropriate tool to investigate cognitive disturbances, at least in patients with a recent onset of illness.…”

Psychopathology of Basic Stages of Schizophrenia in View of Formal Thought Disturbances

“…The postpsychotic reversible basic stages appear immediately after the remission of the productive psychotic schizophrenic phase and cannot be differentiated by psychopathological or psychological methods from postpsychotic irreversible pure defect syn dromes [12], Only when such postpsychotic basic syndromes with cognitive and dynamic deficiencies persist continuously for more than 3 years are pure defect syndromes con sidered as irreversible said to exist.…”