Medication effects on referent communication in schizophrenic patients: an evaluation with a structured task.
Objective measures of communication efficiency were collected twice on 10 schizophrenic patients while they participated in a structured interactive task which has seen considerable use in developmental studies of communication skills. Referential communication and thought disorder were assessed while patients were off and then on neuroleptic medication. While medicated, subjects produced more informative task-related responses. Drug-free subjects produced more unclear references and episodes of bizarre speech. These "interruptive" tendencies appeared to be a problem of dialogue maintenance and attentional focus, which improved with medication.
Clark
A
A
Department of Psychiatry, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016.
Harvey
P
P
Alpert
M
M
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012564:Schizophrenic Language; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013060:Speech / Q000187:drug effects*; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents