Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
05:52
Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
Published on: November 21, 2013
Phenomenological study of late-onset schizophrenia
M G Harish1, K P Suresh, I Rajan
1M.G. Harish, M.B.B.S., Junior Resident, Department of Psychiatry, NIMHANS, Bangalore - 560 029.
Indian Journal of Psychiatry
|May 18, 2011
Summary
Late-onset schizophrenia commonly presents with persecutory delusions and auditory hallucinations. This study analyzed clinical presentations in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia after age 45.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Late-onset schizophrenia (LOS) diagnosis and phenomenology remain debated.
- Understanding LOS clinical presentation is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical and phenomenological presentation of late-onset schizophrenia.
- To identify common symptoms and characteristics in LOS patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of patient charts diagnosed with schizophrenia (onset ≥ 45 years) between 1990-1993.
- Utilized the OPCRIT checklist for systematic data collection.
- Included 59 subjects meeting ICD-10 DCR criteria for schizophrenia.
Main Results:
- Persecutory delusion (83%) was the most frequent symptom, followed by delusions of influence and hallucinations (66% each).
- Third-person auditory hallucinations occurred in 53% of subjects; negative symptoms were present in 42%.
- Specific symptoms like delusional perception and thought echo were notably absent.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest a distinct phenomenological profile for late-onset schizophrenia.
- Persecutory delusions and auditory hallucinations are key features of LOS.
- Further research is warranted to explore the implications of these findings for LOS management.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
01:30Negative and Cognitive Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia indicate a reduction or absence of typical behaviors and emotional responses found in healthy individuals, while positive symptoms reflect an excess or distortion of normal functioning.
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
Negative Symptoms
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia manifest as deficits in normal emotional and behavioral functioning, profoundly impacting daily life. Individuals with schizophrenia often display a flat affect, characterized by a near-total absence of emotional expression,...
01:17Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those diagnosed.
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
02:20Longitudinal Research
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...