FACTOR-ANALYSIS OF SCHIZOPHRENIC SYMPTOMS AND COMPARISON OF DIFFERENTRATING-SCALES

This study examines the factor structure of persistent schizophrenic s ymptoms and compares factors derived from different rating scales. For ty stable chronic schizophrenic patients were assessed for positive an d negative symptoms. In factor analysis, 3 factors could be detected: a negative factor which correlated with low drug dose and increased in voluntary movements, a thought disturbance/paranoid factor which corre lated negatively with extrapyramidal side effects and a delusion/hallu cination factor which correlated negatively with involuntary movements . These findings support the existence of a negative factor but only p artly the trichotomous division of schizophrenic symptoms. Positive sy mptom organisation is heterogeneous but thought disorder marks one cle ar dimension and non-paranoid delusions and hallucinations may mark an other. The type of scale used has very significant effects on the find ings.