Scale for the evaluation of communication disorders in patients with schizophrenia: a validation study.
OBJECTIVE
A scale for the evaluation of communication disorders in patients with schizophrenia (Schizophrenia Communication Disorder Scale-SCD) is proposed based on studies showing that cognitive disorders specific to the disorganization seen in schizophrenia consist of context processing deficits and problems in the attribution of mental states. Thus the focus of this scale is on the cognitive difficulties revealed in conversation during a structured interview.


METHODS
Fifty-six patients with schizophrenia, depression or mania were evaluated.


CONCLUSIONS
Significantly elevated scores on the SCD were present in patients with schizophrenia compared to all other groups. Thus, this scale adds to the tools available for evaluating the language of patients with schizophrenia and helps focus on characteristics that are specific to this psychotic diagnosis.
Bazin
Nadine
N
Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier de Versailles, Le Chesnay, France. nbazin@ch-versailles.fr
Sarfati
Yves
Y
Lefrère
Frédéric
F
Passerieux
Christine
C
Hardy-Baylé
Marie-Christine
MC
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003710:Demography; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity