PREMORBID ASOCIALITY IN NEUROLEPTIC-RESISTANT AND NEUROLEPTIC-RESPONSIVE SCHIZOPHRENIA

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether childhood and adoles cent premorbid asociality differed in neuroleptic-responsive and neuro leptic-resistant schizophrenia. Premorbid asociality was assessed with the Pre-morbid Asociality Adjustment Scale in 411 patients meeting DS M-III-R criteria for chronic schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder categorized as being either neuroleptic-responsive or neuroleptic-res istant. Patterns of childhood and adolescent asociality were found to be different in neuroleptic-resistant and neuroleptic-responsive patie nts. Pre-morbid asociality during the pre-adult years was not consiste ntly worse in patients with poor response to neuroleptic treatment. Gr eater impairment in late adolescent psychosexual functioning was predi ctive of poor outcome with regard to neuroleptic treatment.