über den Einfluss psychoorganischer Beeinträchtigung im Alter auf den Verlauf sogenannter Spätschizophrenien

Abstract

Empirical findings are reported concerning the relationship between psychoorganic deterioration in old age and the course and clinical symptoms (delusions, presenting symptoms) of the so-called late schizophrenias. The probands were reexamined in their senium decades after the onset of the illness. A significant relationship was found between severe psychoorganic deterioration occurring in old age and a chronic course of the psychoses, generally and particularly in the senium, and between severe psychoorganic deterioration and the occurrence of schizophrenic thought-disorder as the main symptom. Absent or slight psychoorganic deterioration in old age was found significantly co-related to manic-depressive dysthymia as the main symptom. Further development of delusions appears to be independent of the degree of psychoorganic deterioration in old age.