Age disorientation in schizophrenia: an indicator of progressive and severe psychopathology, not institutional isolation.
The authors investigated age disorientation in chronic schizophrenia to determine whether specific symptomatic, neurologic, and cognitive disturbances were linked to its presentation. Disorientation to their age was detected in 30% (16/54) of the schizophrenic patients in a chronic care facility. In matched comparisons, age-disoriented patients showed lower educational achievement, poorer mental state performance, and a greater severity of symptoms, as well as more severe motor and sensory impairments. Levels of social withdrawal did not differentiate the two groups. A two-hit model consistent with neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative processes is proposed to explain the data.
Manschreck
T C
TC
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology Laboratory for Clinical and Experimental Psychopathology, Harvard Medical School, Fall River, MA 02720, USA. Theo.Manschreck@dmh.state.ma.us
Maher
B A
BA
Winzig
L
L
Candela
S F
SF
Beaudette
S
S
Boshes
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012918:Social Alienation / Q000523:psychology*