[Early dysfunctional states in histories of schizophrenic patients]

Altogether 255 patients with slow-progressive schizophrenia were examined, the mean time of follow up studies being 5.7 years. Premorbid anamnesis of the 93 patients showed different dysfunctional states (psychopathologic, neurologic or somatovegetative of transient character). As regards the structure and development these disorders were not related to the disease that followed. The character of the dysfunctional states, progress of the disease, syndromic manifestations during active period and marked negative changes during the remission seemed to be linked. In patients with early dysfunctional states, the disease ran a more favourable course. Greater severity, systemic character as well as symptomatic features marked early dysfunctional states in patients with schizophrenia as compared to those seen in neurotic patients. Early dysfunctional states are assumed to be a manifestation of instability of the functional systems as a result of their concealed reconstruction during latent disease stage.