[Delusional psychoses during first hospitalization: age of onset and diagnosis of schizophrenia by six diagnostic criteria]

Abstract

The histories of illness of 167 patients with syndromological diagnosis of delusional psychosis were analysed with respect to their nosological qualification based on clinical diagnostics and 5 selected, operationalised criteria of schizophrenia. Its purpose was to establish dependence between diagnostics of schizophrenia and morbidity age (early, middle and late). A conclusion was that with application of clinical criteria, diagnosis of schizophrenia was a prevailing nosological qualification within the examined group (67%). Such diagnosis was less frequent in the group of late morbidity psychoses. It was also concluded that the dependence on morbidity age was displayed by these criteria which were strongly premised on a defined diagnostic approach. The Schneider's primary symptoms allowed more often for diagnosis of schizophrenia in later age. The Bleuler's (axial) symptoms more often facilitated diagnosis of schizophrenia in earlier age. Mediating criteria, belonging to the DSM-III-R or ICD-IO classification, did not display dependence on morbidity age.