Cognitive abnormalities in schizophrenic patients and schizotypal college students

Article Abstract:

Schizotypy is a term used by psychologists to describe individuals who are not psychotic, but appear to share a genetic or psychobiological factor with schizophrenics. It is not clear at this time if schizotypy is a psychiatric disorder that is a less serious form of schizophrenia, or simply a state of vulnerability for psychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia. The evidence available to date suggests that the schizotypal personality involves cognitive (mental) disturbances and difficulties with social functioning. Although schizotypal individuals have been described as lacking the ability to feel pleasure and empathy, unable to show emotions, and being socially dependent, the lack of a firm definition has made schizotypy difficult to study. The cognitive function of 20 schizotypal college students was compared with that of 140 normal controls, 127 schizophrenics who were currently or previously institutionalized, and 19 students whose test scores indicated they were between the normal range and the definition of schizotypy (nonschizotypic elevation group). The cognitive function of these groups was evaluated with the COGLAB test battery. The results showed that schizotypal subjects had specific deficits in the following types of information processing: concept attainment and manipulation; pre-attentional processing; and response biasing. However, their scores on attentional and psychomotor tasks were as high as, and more consistent than, those of the normal subjects. The nonschizotypic elevation group did not differ significantly from the normal group. The data indicate that schizotypy involves limited, specific cognitive deficits, but not a pervasive cognitive deficiency similar to or less severe than the deficits found in patients with schizophrenia. The deficits of schizotypy may be qualitatively different from those of schizophrenia. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Diagnosis, Testing, Physiological aspects, Cognition disorders, Cognitive disorders

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Acknowledging alcohol problems: the use of a visual analogue scale to measure denial

Article Abstract:

Patients who abuse alcohol often deny that this is a problem, which is one of the major obstacles in treating alcoholics. The patient in denial typically refuses to acknowledge, or minimizes, his alcohol problem. However, denial is difficult to objectively measure. The current paper reports on the results of using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for this purpose. The VAS is a technique that has proven useful in measuring subjective experiences. Basically, subjects are asked to make a mark on a line of standard length (usually 10 centimeters), representing where on the continuum they would rate their subjective experience of the phenomenon in question. The VAS has also been used for observer ratings and has been judged reliable in both applications. One hundred patients were asked to indicate the magnitude of their problem with alcohol using the VAS. The subjects also underwent an interview to assess their problem with alcohol, social adjustment, and compliance with treatment. The interviewer used the VAS to rate the magnitude of the subjects' alcohol problem as well. Despite acknowledging high levels of problems with alcohol on the VAS, half the sample underestimated the severity of their problem when compared with the VAS ratings of interviewers. A small subgroup was extreme in their denial of their alcohol problem. The VAS was more useful in quantifying the problems the patient's alcohol consumption were causing, from both from the patient and clinician perspective, than other measures. Denial was not related to treatment compliance in this sample. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Measurement, Complications and side effects, Alcoholics, Denial (Psychology), Alcoholic myopathy

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Comorbidity for borderline and schizotypal personality disorders: a study of alcoholic women

Article Abstract:

The cases of 26 alcoholic women with pure borderline personality disorders (BPD) were compared with those of 16 alcoholic women with schizotypal personality disorders (mixed borderline disorder, or MBD). BPD is characterized by instability of mood, self-image and interpersonal relationships, as well as impulsive and self-destructive behavior and chronic feelings of boredom or emptiness. MBD is characterized by marked deficits in interpersonal competence, bizarre thought patterns, lack of close friends and excess social anxiety and suspiciousness. The women with MBD were found to have fewer alcoholic relatives, worse relationships with parents and siblings, worse childhood environments, were more poorly adjusted before the diagnosis of a personality disorder, were more likely to have nervous children, and had worse social networks. They also reported having more emotional losses during childhood and adolescence, had earlier contact with psychiatry and were hospitalized more often. They had a higher rate of non-alcoholic axis I disorders (mostly depressive and anxiety disorders) and a greater frequency of paranoid personality disorders. Thus, the MBD women had more mental illnesses, suggesting a link between MBD and mood disorders. These facts also suggest that MBD may be a disorder in its own right that should be distinguished from pure BPD in treatment and research.

Case studies, Women, Alcohol use, Borderline personality disorder

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