[Psychopathometric cross sectional study in aged chronic schizophrenic patients]

This study aimed at determining the different test behaviour of aged chronic schizophrenics compared with acutely schizophrenic patients. 198 patients were examined who fulfilled the criteria of diagnosis of schizophrenia according to K. Schneider, who were more than 60 years old, and whose IQ was over 60. The author used the MWT Intelligence Test (Erlangen), the Syndrome Test Method, MMPI, Tree Test, Defect Test Battery according to Kinzel, and the Shape Interpretation Test after Rorschach. 158 of these patients passed all the tests. The results confirm the author's assumption that test profiles of chronic schizophrenics are different in aged patients from these obtained in acute schizophrenia. There was also no similarity to the results obtained in persons who suffered from organic defects. It is concluded that the test methods described here cannot be employed for confirming schizophrenia as diagnosis in chronic schizophrenics and in aged, relapsed patients.