AGE-RELATED DIFFERENCES IN FORMAL THOUGHT-DISORDER IN CHRONICALLY HOSPITALIZED SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY ACROSS 9 DECADES

Objective: This study used a cross-sectional design to examine the fre quency of occurrence and severity of 10 different signs of thought dis order in schizophrenic patients across the lifespan. Method: Schizophr enic patients, who ranged in age from 19 to 96 years (N=392), were exa mined with the Scale for Assessment of Thought, Language, and Communic ation. The cognitive functioning of the geriatric patients (patients o ver the age of 64, N=120) was also assessed. Results: Poverty of speec h was more common and more severe in geriatric patients, while four di fferent signs of thought disorder that reflect disconnected speech wer e less common and less severe in geriatric patients. Analysis of covar iance found that the lower severity of disconnection thought disorders in the older patients was not attributable to differences in the amou nt of speech produced. Conclusions: Aspects of disconnected speech wer e less severe in older patients, while the severity and frequency of p overty of speech were greater. These findings suggest that the two pre viously identified separate dimensions of communication disorder In sc hizophrenia vary differently with age and possibly in their cognitive and biological underpinnings.