EARLY SELF-EXPERIENCED NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL DEFICITS AND SUBSEQUENT SCHIZOPHRENIC DISEASES - AN 8-YEAR AVERAGE FOLLOW-UP PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential predicti ve value of early self-experienced neuropsychological deficits for the subsequent development of schizophrenia. A total of 96 patients with DSM-III-R diagnoses of personality disorders (formerly called 'neuroti c disorders') who had been examined for the presence of such subjectiv e experiences of deficits with standardized instruments were re-examin ed for the possible development of schizophrenic symptoms. After an av erage follow-up period of about 8 years, more than 50% of the patients had developed schizophrenia according to DSM-III-R criteria. In 77% o f cases the outcome 'schizophrenia vs, no schizophrenia' was correctly predicted by the earlier presence or absence of self-experienced dist urbances of thought, speech, memory, perception and action. These find ings suggest that certain self-experienced neuropsychological deficits are able to indicate susceptibility to psychosis.