On the descriptive validity of ICD-10 schizophrenia: empirical analyses in the spectrum of non-affective functional psychoses.
In order to examine the descriptive validity of ICD-10 schizophrenia, 1,476 consecutively admitted in-patients were included in the present study. ICD-10 schizophrenia (n=951) was compared with other non-affective psychotic disorders [persistent delusional disorders (n=51), acute and transient psychotic disorders (n=116) and schizoaffective disorders (n=354)] with respect to sociodemographic, symptomatological and other clinical parameters. Analyses revealed that it is possible to distinguish schizophrenia from other non-affective psychotic disorders according to ICD-10 criteria: schizophrenic patients were characterised by more pronounced negative symptoms and a lower global functioning. They were younger than patients with persistent delusional disorders and schizoaffective disorders but older than patients with acute and transient psychotic disorders. The results are in line with a high descriptive validity of ICD-10 schizophrenia and highlight the importance of negative symptoms for this diagnosis.
Jäger
Markus
M
Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany. markus.jaeger@psy.med.uni-muenchen.de
Bottlender
Ronald
R
Strauss
Anton
A
Möller
Hans-Jürgen
HJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D003702:Delusions / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011599:Psychopathology / Q000145:classification; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors