Periodicity of recurrence of 'phasic type' of schizophrenia

Seventy-nine "phasic type" of schizophrenics (38 males, 41 females), who in their progress of schizophrenia had a certain dilapidation of personality, were observed and treated for more than four years and were investigated as to the intervals of their recurrences. The recurrence totaled 198. It was characteristic of periodic occurences that 61.1% of them occurred within an interval of eight to eleven months (about 240-330 days) and 10.6% of them occurred within an interval of approximate multiples of eight to eleven months (as measured from the start of one recurrence period to the start of the next). The interval between recurrences was not markedly affected by seasonal changes, which raised or lowered the temperature and lengthened or shortened the day. Nor was it affected by tranquilizers, such as phenothiazine-derivatives, butyrophenone-derivatives, or by the psychogenic moment (though the picture of recurrences might be affected by all of these). The rhythm of recurrences of the "phasic type" of schizophrenia seems to be endogenous in free-running nature, as if schizophrenics live in an empty world.