[Clinical characteristics and prognostic evaluation of changes in personality in delusional schizophrenia]

On the basis of the clinical examination of 141 patients of both sexes with delirious schizophrenia, the authors present clinical descriptions of different varieties of the premorbid personality make-up and of the types of adverse personality changes in patients with varying course and degree of the disease progression. These parameters are correlated with the dynamic characteristics of the personality at the initial stage of delirious schizophrenia as well as with a number of other clinical-pathogenetic parameters (sex, age at the moment of the disease manifestation). The suggestion is discussed that premorbid personality characteristics and sex have not only pathogenic but also pathoplastic effect on the formation of the clinical picture of the subsequent disturbances. The question is raised whether the clinical parameters characterizing the manifestations and time-course of personality alterations associated with delirious schizophrenia can be used as early prognostic signs.