Recovered versus nonrecovered schizophrenic patients among those who have had intensive psychotherapy

Eight cases of fully recovered formerly schizophrenic (DSM-III-R) patients who had been treated with intensive psychodynamic psychotherapy were compared with 10 nonrecovered schizophrenic patients who also had been treated with intensive psychotherapy. There were no significant differences in chronicity, medication or type and amount of psychotherapy given. The most striking difference between the groups was the type and quality of auditory hallucinations. In the nonrecovered group the hallucinations were more dominating and often of the running commentary type, sometimes occurring even in calm periods. Visual hallucinations were also found more commonly in the nonrecovered group. The findings are discussed in terms of predominantly genetic vs predominantly lesional vulnerability. The limitations of the study lie in the scarcity of cases and the sometimes low quality of the hospital records.