Patients with very-late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis: a follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
The topic of course and outcome of very-late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis (VLOSLP) has not received the research attention it deserves. The aim of this study was to evaluate the course of clinical symptoms and functional status of patients with VLOSLP in comparison with patients with life-long schizophrenia.


METHODS
Telephone interviews were conducted on primary caregivers of 21 patients with VLOSLP who had recently been released from inpatient care. Their treating staff evaluated 21 schizophrenia inpatients according to the same criteria.


RESULTS
The majority of patients with VLOSLP did not present cognitive and functional deterioration. On the other hand, 8 of the 19 patients in the elderly schizophrenia group had some functional decline; 3 of those 8 patients seemed to have some cognitive decline, as well.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the VLOSLP patients present stable cognitive and everyday functioning, as compared with chronically institutionalized elderly patients with schizophrenia.
Mazeh
Doron
D
Psychogeriatric Dept., Abarbanel Mental Health Center, 15 KKL Street, Bat-Yam, 59100, Israel. mazehdor@netvision.net.il
Zemishlani
Channa
C
Aizenberg
Dov
D
Barak
Yoram
Y
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology