Aging and schizophrenic psychosis

The author discusses the question of the interference of schizophrenia and aging, and specially of the impact of biologic and organic versus social and situational factors. The presentation is based on long-term follow-up studies by the author himself and others, showing favorable outcomes in about half of the cases. Contrary to general beliefs, old age has quite often a favorable influence, eg. by dampening acute productive symptoms and drives, and by improving interpersonal relations. Psycho-organic deterioration is hardly more frequent, in schizophrenics, than in the general population. In conclusion, in old age, too, schizophrenia does no longer appear as a fatally progressive organic disease, but as a multiconditional open life process in vulnerable individuals with persisting potential for improvement even in old age.