Psychiatric crisis. A comparison of schizophrenic and nonschizophrenic patients

Thirty-nine patients (23 nonschizophrenic and 16 schizophrenic people), who were hospitalized on a short term, crisis intervention ward, were extensively interviewed to discover whether the crisis precipitants and the crisis experience differed for the two groups. As opposed to the schizophrenic individuals, the nonschizophrenic, "distraught" patients led orderly lives and were more likely to be in problematic developmental life stages (i$, late adolescense) or to be physically ill. For the distraught patients, the precipitating events were clearer and were more likely to involve interpersonal or narcissistic loss (i.e., the end of a romance), overt anger was less likely to be expressed, and parental figures were less likely to be involved. Both the nonschizophrenic and the schizophrenic people were thought to be chronically vulnerable to external stress. A phenomenological description of their psychopathology was included to explain, in part, their vulnerability. Suggestions about treatment approaches were developed.