The predictive value of psychopathological subclassifications for the neuroleptic treatment outcome in schizophrenia

In the group of 58 schizophrenic patients who fulfilled the DSM-III-R criteria for schizophrenia, various subgroups have been identified according to the DSM-III-R subdivision of schizophrenic types, the DCR classification of systematic, nonsystematic schizophrenia and cycloid psychosis, as well as positive/negative symptoms of schizophrenia. All patients underwent therapy with one neuroleptic from four different neuroleptic groups. Some significant differences between the subgroups in respect to sociodemographic data were found. The DCR subdivision of patients revealed the majority of meaningful data regarding the predictive validity of psychopathology for the outcome of the neuroleptic treatment.