[Premorbid personality of schizophrenic patients]

This review summarizes different studies on schizophrenics regarding their premorbid personality. Schizophrenics do not average other social classes (father's profession) than endogenous or reactive depressives do, nor do they differ from the general population in that respect. On the other hand, schizophrenics show an inferior schooling achievement, as compared to depressives, and partially for that reason belong to lower social classes prior to the onset of their illness. Detailed studies of the respective social network show that schizophrenics develop in a less emancipated manner than controls, that they stick more to their families of origin, and that they engage in fewer interpersonal relationships. The latter not only are quantitatively inferior to those of healthy people, but also in quality; their relationships are often distant and alienated. In a prospective epidemiological study, 28 schizophrenics were assessed with a multi-dimensional personality test, the FPI, on average 2 years prior to the onset of their illness. The selfrating results show that schizophrenics are introverted premorbidly, as compared to control groups; it is assumed that this personality trait will be understood as "schizoid" in non-selfrating. Surprisingly, schizophrenics premorbidly have a normal neuroticism score, i.e. they are not more irritable, more aggressive, more depressive or emotionally unstable than controls.