Vocabulary knowledge and usage of schizophrenic subjects: A six-year follow-up.

Abstract

OR THE past 30 years vocabulary performance, used as a measure of former intelligence level, has played a prominent role in the assessment of intellectual deterioration. In recent years, however, the use of vocabulary measures in this manner has provoked a barrage of criticisms (see Yates, 1956, for a comprehensive review). Foremost among these criticisms, as they apply to deterioration in schizophrenics, has been the contention that vocabulary performance also is impaired in schizophrenics, and, hence, cannot be used as a so-called "stable baseline" from which to judge deterioration in other abilities.Impairment of vocabulary performance in schizophrenics, if present, could be manifested as a decline coincident with and a function of the psychotic episode itself, or as a gradual erosion with continued illness and institutionalization, or both. In an earlier investigation (Moran, 1953) the first possibility was examined in a cross-sectional study of 40 matched pairs of schizophrenic and normal subjects (5s). It was concluded that ". . .although the schizophrenic may appear to 'define' words as adequately as the control subject, he is less able than the control subject to attain the 'more difficult solutions' of further differentiating the word meanings, or to use the same words in reasoning or in communicating" (p. 16).The present study reports the results of a 1 This study was made possible by a grant from The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, University of Texas. Grateful appreciation is expressed to Ruth M. Hubbard and other members of the Waco VAH staff for their cooperation in carrying out this study.

Stability and Course of Neuropsychological Deficits in Schizophrenia

“…The available studies, however, provide conflicting results and have a variety of methodologic limitations (eg, small or nonrepresentative samples, no controls, brief follow-ups, and/or limited neuropsychological testing). 2,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36] Both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative views of neuropsychological deficits in schizophrenia seemingly remain viable. 10 While progression of deficit after illness onset clearly is not universal, or even typical of the disorder, a subset of persons with schizophrenia may evidence cognitive deterioration over time.…”

Stability of vocabulary performance by schizophrenics.

“…More importantly, the mean of this follow-up subsample in 1949 (14.4) was lower than that of the total group tested in 1949, i.e., the mean for the 170 subjects was 16.1 (Moran et al, 1952). In an earlier study of Veterans Administration patients, the 6-year follow-up subsample of 30 patients also had a lower mean vocabulary raw score in 1952 (21.8) than the total group (23.9), from which it was drawn (Moran et al, 1960). This does not indicate that the present findings of stability in vocabulary performance of schizophrenics apply only to low vocabulary subjects.…”

“…The most obvious change in the 30 Veterans Administration patients studied earlier was an increased garrulousness (or decreased verbal facility) on second testing (Moran et-al., 1960). This was evident also in the 31 men in the present sample; the mean number of words used in their definitions increased from 88 to 118.…”

Associative Changes in Hospitalized Schizophrenics during a 16-Year Period

“…et al (1969) found a normalization of associative performance in a sample of chronic schizophrenics after a follow-up period of 10 years. According to the literature (Yates, 1956;Moran et al, 1960;Wynne, 1963;Higgins et al, 1965), we should have expected some worsening or no change at all. A plausible cause for this discrepancy is that we used a longitudinal design, whereas the earlier studies (except for Moran et al, 1960) were cross-sectional.…”

“…According to the literature (Yates, 1956;Moran et al, 1960;Wynne, 1963;Higgins et al, 1965), we should have expected some worsening or no change at all. A plausible cause for this discrepancy is that we used a longitudinal design, whereas the earlier studies (except for Moran et al, 1960) were cross-sectional. Because of its implications for the long-term prognosis in schizophrenia, it is important to establish the direction of an eventual change.…”