J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1992; 4:428-434
Copyright © 1992 by American Neuropsychiatric Association
Neuropsychological discriminators of long-term inpatient or outpatient status in chronic schizophrenia
D Perlick, S Mattis, P Stastny and J Teresi
Department of Psychiatry, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, White Plains 10605.
This study investigates specific neuropsychological functions
discriminating schizophrenic patients with hospitalization beyond 18 months
from patients residing in the community without rehospitalization beyond 3
years. Twenty-six Research Diagnostic Criteria-diagnosed chronic
schizophrenic outpatients and 26 inpatients matched for sex, ethnicity,
socioeconomic status, and chronicity completed a comprehensive
neuropsychological battery and responded to an inventory of
psychopathology. Discriminant function analyses showed that measures of
motor coordination, preservation, memory, and attention discriminated
between patient groups. Bilateral simultaneous fine motor coordination was
the most potent discriminator between patient groups, independent of
psychopathology. Implications for treatment and research on course and
outcome in schizophrenia are discussed.
