Comparison of psychometric and pathopsychological approaches in the assessment of intellectual activity in children and adolescents with progressive forms of schizophrenia

Abstract

To study the intellectual activity of children and adolescents with progressive forms of schizophrenia using quantitative and qualitative diagnostic methods. An experimental group consisted of 67 children and adolescents (mean age 11.1±2.8 years) with mental pathology of schizophrenia spectrum with varying severity of the disease (malignant, progressive, and low progressive course) and leading clinical syndromes (catatonic, psychopathic, neurosis-like, and hyperkinetic). A control group included 63 children and adolescents (mean age 11.1±3.0 years) without a verified psychiatric diagnosis, secondary schools' students. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) was used for assessing intelligence, the Design of objects method was used for assessing the characteristics of thinking. The relationship between thinking disorders and the parameters of verbal intelligence in patients with schizophrenia was shown (the Information subtest is related to all Object Construction parameters, r=0.401 to r=0.634; verbal IQ score is associated with some Object Construction scores, r=0.541 to r=0.537). In the control group, such a relationship was not noted. A decrease in the level of intelligence and severe thinking disorders is associated with such clinical factors as the malignant course of the disease (mean Full IQ score is 60.1, z-value of the coefficient of standardization in relation to the age norm is -2.1) and catatonic syndrome (mean Full IQ score is 68.1, coefficient of standardization is 60%). The use of psychometric and pathopsychological approaches in the diagnosis of intellectual activity complements each other.