Self-monitoring dysfunction and the schizophrenic symptoms of alien control.
BACKGROUND
Frith & Done (1988) have proposed that the experience of alien control symptoms in schizophrenia is related to a failure by such individuals to monitor effectively their own willed intentions, actions and thoughts.


METHODS
To examine this hypothesis, a heterogeneous group of 35 patients, all carrying a DSM-III-R diagnosis of schizophrenia (or schizophreniform psychosis) and 24 non-patient controls, completed a battery of neuropsychological and cognitive tests, which inter alia, included four putative measures of self-monitoring. Patients took part in a detailed clinical interview to assess current levels of symptomatology.


RESULTS
Patients generally performed at a lower level on most components of the test battery, including the four self-monitoring tests. Moreover, patients currently experiencing symptoms of alien control tended to experience greater difficulty with each of the self-monitoring tests; an effect that was relatively independent of neuropsychological or general cognitive function.


CONCLUSIONS
The relationship between poor self-monitoring and the presence of alien control symptoms provides support for Frith & Done's account of the origins of these symptoms in schizophrenia.
Stirling
J D
JD
Department of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Manchester Metropolitan University.
Hellewell
J S
JS
Quraishi
N
N
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001364:Awareness; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011340:Problem Solving; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011936:Reality Testing; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology