To study the course of psychosis in early schizophrenia, the authors
assessed 111 patients at hospitalization and at one or two follow-ups. The
course of psychosis was analyzed separately for broad (DSM-II) and narrow
(DSM-III) concepts of schizophrenia. The patients diagnosed with DSM-II
improved in psychosis between the first and second follow-ups. Those also
diagnosed with DSM-III showed more persistent psychosis; 40% were psychotic
at both follow-ups. A subgroup of patients showed improvement in psychosis
even after several years of sustained symptoms. The authors discuss the
implications of the data for views about the persistence of psychotic
symptoms.
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