A differential phenomenological study of acute and chronic schizophren
ia is scanty. Thought disorder was assessed in 22 acute and 23 chronic
schizophrenics. The scale for the assessment of thought, language and
communication was used. Poverty of speech was significantly more freq
uent in acute schizophrenia. Positive formal thought disorder was unus
ually found to be severer in chronic schizophrenia. No other significa
nt difference was found. From the perspective of thought disorder, acu
te and chronic forms of schizophrenia seem to be in a continuum with m
inimal difference.