Can Schizophrenia Change to Affective Psychosis?
EUGENE ZISKIND M.D.1,
ESTHER SOMERFELD M.D.2, , and
RUTH JENS M.D.
1 Emeritus Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles and Consultant, Gateways Hospital and Community Mental Health Center, 1891 Effie St., Los Angeles, Calif. 90026
2 Emeritus Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles
Five patients diagnosed as schizophrenic 15 to 30 years ago by the authors have been treated intermittently since then for frequent periodic attacks. Each patient has undergone marked improvement. On maintenance medication there are very few (usually two to 14) days of illness each year. The most striking change is that their symptoms are now primarily affective in character rather than schizophrenic.
