Reassessment of state hospital patients diagnosed with schizophrenia

Schizophrenic patients in long-term care programs may not have been carefully diagnosed according to current criteria. As part of a clinical reassessment program at a state hospital, the author randomly assessed 72 patients who carried a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The diagnosis of schizophrenia by DSM-III-R criteria was confirmed in 45 patients. Various organic disorders were diagnosed in seven patients. Four patients had bipolar affective disorder, manic; one patient had schizoaffective disorder, depressed; one patient had a substance use disorder; and two had primary mental retardation or pervasive developmental disorder. Twelve patients had unclear or atypical syndromes.