AXIS-II DIAGNOSES AND TREATMENT REFRACTORINESS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

In a previous medical record review study we identified a subset of ch ronic schizophrenic patients with comorbid Axis II personality disorde r diagnoses, who had significantly longer lengths of inpatient stay as compared to schizophrenic patients without Axis II diagnoses. This st udy describes a detailed review of a subset of these records. Eighteen records of schizophrenic patients with comorbid Axis II diagnoses wer e matched with records of patients without comorbid diagnoses. Demogra phic and premorbid data revealed no differences between the groups, in dicating that the Axis II diagnoses were markers for current as oppose d to past psychopathology. Negative symptoms were lower in the cohort with comorbid Axis II personality disorder diagnoses on admission only , while affective symptomatology was increased in this group throughou t treatment. Ratings of personality pathology showed a trend towards s ignificance, with the comorbid group demonstrating greater amounts of maladaptive personality traits. These data support the notion that per sonality traits may be independent of Axis I symptomatology in chronic schizophrenia, and can influence the course of treatment.