The positive triad of schizophrenic symptoms: its statistical properties and its relationship to 13 traditional diagnostic systems

Article Abstract:

Diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia have become more reliable and thus more useful over the years. This can be attributed to more stringent requirements for the inclusion of criteria in diagnostic systems. Generally the criteria, to be included, need to occur frequently enough to be of value, their occurrence must be consistently measurable by objective means, each criterion must be distinct, and while they must occur frequently in the target population, they must occur infrequently if at all in other populations. Computers have aided in the selection of criteria in this manner. The International Pilot Study of Schizophrenia (IPSS), undertaken by the World Health Organization, published symptom frequencies from cross-cultural investigations. The present study compares 88 independently arrived-at symptoms of schizophrenia with the IPSS to determine which are present on the IPSS list and would meet the criteria for inclusion as diagnostically relevant. One hundred and twenty patients were assessed for past and present symptoms of schizophrenia by personal interviews, interviews with family and friends, and via medical records. It was found that symptoms present in 25 percent of the subjects were not necessarily unique to schizophrenia but that symptoms present in between 50 percent and 90 percent of the cases generally matched those considered classic for schizophrenia. Auditory hallucinations, disturbance of affect, and passivity feelings emerged as a triad of symptoms which are seen in the IPSS. For diagnostic validity, the triad needs to be compared against reliable standards to determine if the symptoms are found in other samples of schizophrenics and absent in other populations. The triad of symptoms was compared with 13 other diagnostic systems for agreement as well, with a strong correlation seen to emerge. While the use of the triad may not provide an absolute measure of the presence of schizophrenia, it represents a core of symptoms for consideration. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Testing, Schizophrenics, Psychiatric rating scales, Psychiatric status rating scales

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Assessing schizophrenia in adults with mental retardation: a comparative study

Article Abstract:

It is difficult to accurately diagnose psychoses in patients with mental retardation because of the overlap of symptoms between the two groups. Without accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment is difficult. To elucidate how the presentation of psychiatric symptoms may differ in patients with concurrent mild mental retardation as compared with patients who are not retarded, a study was designed to compare these two groups. One group of 25 patients was mentally retarded and clinically diagnosed as schizophrenic. The control group consisted of 26 patients who were diagnosed as schizophrenic but who exhibited no symptoms of mental retardation. All subjects were undergoing long-term care. Symptoms of psychiatric disorder were assessed for both groups using a standardized evaluation, and additional information was gathered from treatment notes. It was found that in general there was no difference in the presentation of symptoms between the two groups. There were subtle differences, though, mainly with regard to persecutory delusions and formal thought disorder, which may not be as common among mentally retarded schizophrenics. The similarity between the two groups is evidence that standard assessment tools may be used in the diagnosis of schizophrenia in patients with mental retardation. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Mentally disabled persons

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