Cultural relativety of first rank symptoms in schizophrenia

This study aimed at assessing the extent and usefulness of Schneider's first rank symptoms in the diagnosis of schizophrenia from a cross-cultural point of view. Case notes of patients admitted to the mental health ward of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria were analysed. Seventy eight schizophrenic patients from the basis of this study; 47 (60.3%) of them had first rank symptoms. Similarity was found with the results of Zarrouk, in that somatic passivity and 'made' phenomena predominated.