The course of schizophrenia: Some remarks on a yet unsolved problem of retrospective data collection

Summary The retrospective assessment of symptoms and syndromes is a basic measure in research of the longitudinal course of schizophrenia. In spite of its importance there have been few studies evaluating the standard of quality of instruments for retrospective data collection. Combining retrospectively and cross-sectionally collected data on schizophrenic symptomatology in a cohort study over a period of 5 years revealed a significant underestimation of symptoms when assessed in retrospect. The need for studies on the validity of instruments for the retrospective assessment of symptoms is stressed.     

丙戊酸钠合并氯丙嗪治疗精神分裂症的对照研究

目的观察丙戊酸钠合用氯丙嗪治疗精神分裂症的疗效与不良反应。方法符合CCMD-3诊断标准的精神分裂症住院患者,丙戊酸钠合用氯丙嗪组(研究组)35例,单用氯丙嗪组(对照组)31例。以PANSS、CGI、TESS量表评定观察12周。结果研究组总体疗效自第2周起明显优于对照组(P<0.05),其中研究组兴奋症状分及攻击因子分自第4周起缓解明显优于对照组(P<0.05)。研究组较对照组副反应较少且程度较轻(P<0.05)。结论丙戊酸钠合并氯丙嗪治疗精神分裂症疗效肯定,安全性与耐受性较好。     

General and specific cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: It is controversial whether the cognitive deficit in schizophrenia is better characterized as generalized or as reflecting relatively independent deficits in different cognitive domains. The issue has implications for assessment practice, intervention design, and the exploration of schizophrenia genetics. METHODS: We used a specialized structural equation modeling approach, single common factor analysis, to explore the relative importance of generalized versus independent cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Eighteen subtest scores from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III and the Wechsler Memory Scale-III were included in the analysis. We analyzed these data for 97 schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder outpatients and 87 healthy control subjects. RESULTS: Approximately two thirds of the overall effect of a schizophrenia diagnosis on cognitive performance was mediated through a single common factor. The Wechsler subtest scores showed almost uniformly strong relationships with this factor. The independent associations of group status with the subtest scores were smaller in magnitude and only selectively significant. CONCLUSIONS: The relatively greater magnitude of illness effects mediated through the common factor in this analysis, compared with the specific, independent effects, suggests that a generalized cognitive deficit is a core feature of schizophrenia.     

Quantitative MRI volume changes in late onset schizophrenia and Alzheimer''s disease compared to normal controls

Volumes of medial and lateral temporal lobe structures were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 11 patients with late-life onset schizophrenia (LOS), 18 normal elderly controls and 12 patients with moderate cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) who had no non-cognitive symptoms. While both patient groups has smaller volumes of several medial temporal regions (e.g. entorhinal cortex, left hippocampus), schizophrenics had significantly smaller anterior superior temporal gyri (STG) than normal controls, but AD patients did not. We have previously demonstrated anterior STG volume to be reduced in early life onset schizophrenia.     

A path-analytical approach to differentiate between direct and indirect drug effects on negative symptoms in schizophrenic patients

The hypothesis that differences in drug effects of risperidone and haloperidol on negative symptoms in schizophrenia are secondary to effects on positive, extrapyramidal, and depressive symptoms was investigated by means of an analysis of the data from the USA-Canada risperidone double-blind randomized clinical trial of 523 chronic schizophrenic patients. Regression analyses in the total sample and within treatment groups confirmed a strong relationship between changes in negative symptoms and the other variables studied (R²=0.50–0.51,p<0.001). Only depressive symptoms did not contribute significantly to these results (p>0.10). Path analysis showed that the greater mean change (p<0.05) of negative symptoms with risperidone compared to haloperidol could not be fully explained by correlations with favourable effects on positive and extrapyramidal symptoms. The relationship between shift in extrapyramidal symptoms and shift in negative symptoms failed to reach statistical significance; however, there was a clear tendency in the expected direction in both treatment groups.     

Negative symptoms in schizophrenia: considerations for clinical trials

There is little agreement about the methodology of clinical trials of antipsychotic drugs in patients with negative symptoms. A literature review revealed wide variation in experimental design, rating scales and study duration. This reflects differing views as to the definition and response to treatment of negative symptoms. Some degree of standardization would improve comparability of studies and aid the development of new compounds. Patients included in such studies should have displayed negative symptoms for at least 6 months. Depressive symptoms, positive schizophrenic symptoms and extrapyramidal signs may all influence or be confused with negative symptoms and may respond to treatment; they should be at a low level at baseline and should be measured during the study period. Studies should last at least 8 weeks. Several scales are available for measuring negative symptoms and are reviewed; a global impression score should be used additionally.     

行为干预对康复期精神分裂症患者应对方式和生活质量的作用

目的:探讨行为干预对精神分裂症应对方式和生活质量的作用。方法:将入组患者随机分为实验组和对照组,对实验组患者进行为期一年的行为干预,研究结束时分别用简易应对方式问卷和综合生活质量量表进行评定。结果:实验组复发率和服药依从性与对照组相比均有显著差异(X2=4.29,p<0.05 X2=8.95,p<0.005)。实验组积极、消极应对因子与对照组相比差异显著(t=2.24,p<0.05.t=-2.46,p<0.05)。实验组躯体功能、心理功能、社会功能各维度分与对照组相比均有显著差异(t=2.25～2.92,p<0.05～p<0.01)。结论:对精神分裂症患者进行行为干预可提高患者的应对能力,减少复发,提高生活质量。     

精神分裂症子女的行为问题及相关因素分析

目的 探讨精神分裂症子女的行为问题及相关因素。方法 以Achenbach儿童行为量表(CBCL)为工具，对260名精神分裂症患者的子女(研究组)行为问题及其影响因素进行调查，并与正常健康者的子女(对照组)进行对照。结果 精神分裂症子女行为问题检出率为31．2％。显著高于对照组的12．3％；其主要影响因素为儿童健康状况差、孕产期不利因素、家庭教育方式不当、亲子关系差、居住地社会风气差和学习成绩差。结论 精神分裂症子女的行为问题发生率较高，为生物、心理及社会因素共同作用的结果，并需全面干预。