This study compares the speech and language of 14 schizophrenic patients
having a formal thought disorder with 13 neurologically impaired patients
with aphasia. Transcribed interviews with these patients were blindly
assessed by five specialists for classification as schizophrenic or
aphasic. Three of the five specialists performed better than chance but
only one achieved high discriminating ability. Interrater reliability was
poor. Five of 14 language abnormalities assessed differentiated the
diagnostic groups. These findings suggest that schizophrenic patients share
many language abnormalities with aphasic patients but do not exhibit a
classic aphasic syndrome.Abstract Teaser