[A token economy experiment in young schizophrenic patients]

The paradigm of operant behaviour (Skinner) systematically applied to a group constitutes the theoretical basis of token-economy programs. Such a system consists in relating a certain behaviour to a consequence known to the patient. The efficiency of a token-economy has already been demonstrated for various populations: delinquants, schooolboys, chronic psychiatric patients. This pilot-study reports on our experience in applying in token-economy program in a group of young schizophrenics, most of them being hebefrenics: concepts and difficulties in realisation, hierarchical structure of the system, and results obtained.