title: On the prognostic relevance of ego-psychopathology in schizophrenia: a 2.5-year follow-up.
abstract: Based on a calibration sample comprising 552 schizophrenic patients, ego-psychopathology was modelled in terms of three empirical scales. For this purpose, a special assessment instrument (EPIS) had been designed which measures the phenomena of self-experience in psychotic individuals. Within the scope of these investigations, a 2.5-year follow-up study was carried out with 85 schizophrenic patients. The principal goal of this study was to test the predictive power of typical patterns of self-experience with respect to social functioning. In order to analyse the homogeneity of the data multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis was employed. The results derived from the initial interview suggested a partitioning of the population into two extreme groups termed, according to our model, high-risk and low-risk cases. The predictive power of ego-psychopathology with regard to the social situation was then tested by comparing the outcome of both groups after 2.5 years. The analyses yielded no indication that there is a strong relationship between ego-psychopathology and social adaptation. Only a tendency could be found suggesting that subjects with few ego-psychopathological disturbances have a better occupational behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Psychiatric University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scharfetter
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004532:Ego; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents