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The Symptoms of Chronic Schizophrenia

A Re-examination of the Positive-Negative Dichotomy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Peter F. Liddle*
Affiliation:
Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, and Academic Unit, Horton Hospital, Long Grove Road, Epsom, Surrey KT19 8PZ

Extract

The relationships between symptoms in 40 schizophrenic patients, selected for persistence of symptoms, were examined. The symptoms segregated into three syndromes: psychomotor poverty (poverty of speech, lack of spontaneous movement and various aspects of blunting of affect): disorganisation (inappropriate affect, poverty of content of speech, and disturbances of the form of thought): and reality distortion (particular types of delusions and hallucinations). Both the psychomotor poverty and disorganisation syndromes were associated with social and occupational impairment; in particular, the psychomotor poverty syndrome was associated with impairment of personal relationships, and the disorganisation syndrome with poor self-care and impersistence at work.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1987 

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