The Longitudinal Course of Though Disorder in Geriatric Patients With Chronic Schizophrenia.

Objective: This study longitudinally assessed previously validated dimensions of thought disorder-verbal underproductivity and disconnection-in geriatric schizophrenia and replicated previous cross-sectional differences in communication disorders. Method: Two hundred twenty patients with chronic schizophrenia were assessed with the Thought, Language, and Communication Scale over a mean follow-up period of 2.3 years. Results: Patients had increases in verbal underproductivity but stable scores on disconnection over the follow-up period. Worsening in verbal underproductivity was associated with concurrent worsening in Mini-Mental State Examination scores and older age at baseline. Conclusions: Verbal underproductivity worsens with aging and is associated with cognitive worsening, although disconnected speech is relatively stable. Some geriatric patients with schizophrenia may lose the skills necessary to report symptoms, leading to the impression that their clinical status is improving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of American Journal of Psychiatry is the property of American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)