[Results of remote follow-up of depressive psychoses at the involutional age]

The author performed follow-up studies of 82 female patients with the onset of the disease at 55-64 years and diagnosed as involutional depression. Subsequently the disease acquired an attack-like character. An analysis of the development and repeated attacks permitted the author to consider most of the cases as late schizophrenia and manic-depressive psychoses, while the remaining part of the cases as organic and reactive disorders. A retrospective analysis demonstrates that in the majority of the cases behind an expressed pathoplastical age-specific features even during the first admission there may be seen signs of a schizophrenic process. Taking this into consideration a correct evaluation of the premanifest period may facilitate a more correct diagnosis. Long-term catamnestical observations revealed the existence of a relatively small group of singular psychoses, which according to their clinical characteristics should be considered as special age-specific disorders.