Pseudoneurotic schizophrenia revisited.
OBJECTIVE
'Pseudoneurotic schizophrenia' was a diagnostic term coined in the 1940s by Hoch and Polatin. It described a subgroup of patients who presented with prominent anxiety symptoms, which masked a latent psychotic disorder. Pseudoneurotic schizophrenia as a diagnostic entity has fallen out of clinical use.


METHODS
Described herein is a case that meets the Hoch and Polatin definition of pseudoneurotic schizophrenia.


RESULTS
The history of the concept is reviewed and a discussion is given of why it was forgotten.


CONCLUSIONS
The concepts that underlie the diagnostic entity of pseudoneurotic schizophrenia remain relevant to current practice. Recent findings in patients with an emerging psychotic disorder lend modern support to the idea that schizophrenia may present with significant neurotic symptoms.
O'Connor
Karen
K
ORYGEN Youth Health, Poplar Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. karenoconnor2@hotmail.com
Connor
Karen O
KO
Nelson
Barnaby
B
Walterfang
Mark
M
Velakoulis
Dennis
D
Thompson
Andrew
A
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D012569:Schizotypal Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult