Clinical Trial: A Psychopathological Study of Latent (Early) Schizophrenia: Clinical Pathology/Neuropsychological Dysfunctions

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: A Psychopathological Study of Latent (Early) Schizophrenia: Clinical Pathology/Neuropsychological Dysfunctions

Brief Summary:

Current diagnostic criteria of schizophrenia are based on marked positive and negative symptoms. This definition may impede the exploration of basic phenomenological psychopathology or pathological mechanism of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia was found to have neuroanatomical, neurophysiological and neuropsychological impairment. However, the existence of these basic pathological states may not manifest as clinical state of schizophrenia, and it is found in normal relatives of schizophrenia proband. The clinical state of this underlying pathology may include so-called latent or early, or pseudo-neurotic schizophrenia or schizotypal disorder. The manifestation of prominent neurotic symptom state may not only present as an psychopathological issue, but also induce misdiagnosis in clinical practice. This may interfere early diagnosis of schizophrenia and may delay the chance of early and appropriate treatment.

Taking the fact of this disadvantaged conditions, this research is for exploration of clinical pathology and neuropsychological functions of latent or pseudo-neurotic schizophrenia. The strategy ia a natural follow-up study on the clinical cases obtained from the registration record of the medical charts of the National Taiwan University Hospital from 1970 to 1995. The natural follow-up results till study time (5 yrs to 30 yrs following period) will be explored. By using neurotic group (50 cases), latent schizophrenia group (50 cases) and schizotypal group (30 cases), the differences in clinical pathology, neuropsychological functions and family history of schizophrenia will be examined. There are 5 hypotheses to be tested: (1) Schizotaxia may exist as the manifestations of latent schizophrenia, schizotypal disorder and frank schizophrenia. The severity of pathology increased step by step; (2) The syndrome may change from the lower order to higher order to higher order, b

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital

Current Primary Outcome:

Original Primary Outcome:

Current Secondary Outcome:

Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: National Taiwan University Hospital

Dates:
Date Received: September 9, 2005
Date Started: July 2002
Date Completion: July 2002
Last Updated: November 25, 2005
Last Verified: August 2000