Forty-nine first episode schizophrenics were identified and considered to be representative of the parent schizophrenic population. Patients were rated before treatment with the Present State Examination. Findings are presented with regard to Catego classes, prevalence of first rank symptoms, conformity to ICD diagnoses, Feighner and Research Diagnostic Criteria and presence of a depressive syndrome. Physical examination revealed isolated neurological signs; in addition two neuroleptically naive patients had abnormal involuntary movements.