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The Positive Triad of Schizophrenic Symptoms

Its Statistical Properties and its Relationship to 13 Traditional Diagnostic Systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

J. Landmark ,
H. Merskey ,
Z. Cernovsky  and
E. Helmes
J. Landmark
Affiliation:
Komani Hospital, PO Box 7074, Queenstown 5320, Republic of South Africa
H. Merskey*
Affiliation:
University of Western Ontario, Director of Research, London Psychiatric Hospital, 850 Highbury Avenue, PO Box 2532, Terminal A, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 4H1
Z. Cernovsky
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, St Thomas Psychiatric Hospital, PO Box 2004, St Thomas, Ontario, Canada N5P 3V9
E. Helmes
Affiliation:
University of Western Ontario, Department of Psychology, London Psychiatric Hospital, 850 Highbury Avenue, PO Box 2532, Terminal A, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 4H1
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

Using data from the WHO International Pilot Study of Schizophrenia and from our own previously reported series of 120 patients receiving treatment for schizophrenia, we ascertained the degree of agreement between 13 different systems for diagnosing schizophrenia. We identified a triad of symptoms similar to that from the International Pilot Study: auditory hallucinations, passivity feelings, and disturbances of affect. This triad correlated very strongly with the diagnosis of schizophrenia as determined by the 13 diagnostic systems, as well as with response to fluphenazine in our series. The triad should serve as a core set of symptoms in the study of schizophrenic illness. It represents the leading phenomena in a group of patients having what is generally considered to be schizophrenia, although it does not provide a definitive diagnosis. Evidence is needed on its specificity.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 156 , Issue 3 , March 1990 , pp. 388 - 394
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1990 

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