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Perceptual organization in schizophrenic patients
96
PERCEPTUAL ORGANIZATION SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENTS
IN
AN ANALYSIS OF ASSAULTS DETECTED VIDEOCAMERA ON A STATE HOSPITAL WARD
BY
Jeanyung Chey* and Philip Holzman Department of Psychology, Harvard Universiry. Cambridge, MA 02138, USA Deficit in the early stage of information processing in schizophrenic patients had been suggested by pr&ious studies (Knight et al, 1985; Place and Gilmore, 1980). This study was specifically interested in examining the employment of the Gestalt laws by the patients. Gestalt psychologists established laws of perceptual organization which normals apply on visual pattern of stimuli in the 1920s. Two tasks were used. The first task, visual embedded figure task, examines the law collinearity and law of proximity, while the second task, similarity task, the law of similarity. Both tasks had been used in normal subjects (Van Kleek, 1989). The task allowed comparison of differential performances within each subject. Thus, the general deficit hypothesis of schizophrenia could be eliminated easily. Both reaction time and correct rate were measured. It was hypothesized that schizophrenics, sixteen bipolars, and sixteen normals. Schizophrenic patients displayed different pattern in employing the Gestalt laws compared to normals and other psychiatric groups. Specifics of the data will be presented. Deficit in the stage of perceptual grouping will make it possible to reconsider and specify the present attention deficit hypothesis of schizophrenia.
NON-LOCALIZING ABNORMALITIES
M.L. Crowner*, F. Peric, G. Stepcic, J. Volavka Research Department, Manhattan Psychiatric Center, Ward’s Island. NY, NY 10035, USA We have installed a closed-circuit television camera system on a secure care unit ward for the treatment of violent inpatients. The system has allowed us to videotape assaults between patients and then systematically describe assaults and events preceding them. All videotaped hitting, kicking, slapping, biting, choking or throwing objects with physical contact between patients was reviewed. Over approximately 27 months 115 patients were admitted to the ward. Most, 56%. carried an Axis 1 DSM-3 diagnosis of schizophrenia, while 26% carried a bipolar diagnosis, 10% had no Axis 1 diagnosis, and 8% had OMS diagnoses. 155 assaults were detected during the same time period. Events could be classed ,into groups according to the apparent intent of the assailant eg., play, hurt or warn. Classification was strongly related to ratings of strength of blows and to degree of staff intervention. After review of events preceeding assaults, we identified a number of well-defined behaviours that are specific predictors of assault. Some predictors, or cues, are significantly associated with certain types of fights. We will further discuss our methods and results and explore how the aggressive behaviour of a group of chronic schizophrenics relates to psychopathology.
NEUROLOGICAL IN SCHIZOPHRENIA
Scott C. Clark*, Dolores Malaspina, Abdullah Hasan, Caroline Koeppel, Jack M. Gorman Department of Clinical Psychobiology, Schizophrenia Research Unit, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA Previous studies of neurological abnormalities in psychiatric patients have demonstrated an increased incidence of non-localizing, or “soft”, neurological signs in some groups of schizophrenic patients. Using a brief assessment instrument for which we have previously reported good inter-rater reliability, we have been studying patients from a large state hospital, admissions to an inpatient research unit, and patients without a schizophrenic diagnosis. A subset of patients are being studied in both medicated and nonmedicated states. The purposes of our research include (1) Determination of the influence neuroleptic medications play in the production of “soft” signs, (2) Study of the temporal stability of these signs, and (3) Investigation of the incidence of “soft” signs in family members of patients. Results to be presented include comparison of the incidence of signs in patients with schizophrenia to those with other diagnoses, and data from patients studied both on and off medications.
PREMORBID PERSONALITY IN PATIENTS WITH FIRST ONSET PSYCHOSES T. Dalkin*, P. Murphy, C. Walder, I. Medley, G. Harrison Mapperley Hospital, Porchester Road, Nottingham, NG3 6AA, UK Some adults with schizophrenia have abnormal personalities. Recent studies suggest that there are sex differences in premorbid functioning and that men have poorer premorbid adjustment than women. The aims of this study were to investigate the association of premorbid personality, gender, age of onset and diagnosis in a prospective study of all patients with a first onset psychosis from a defined catchment area over a two year period. Personality ratings on 69 patients were made close to the time of first contact with Psychiatric Services and were blind to diagnosis. Our data shows that premorbid explosive and paranoid traits were commoner in patients with schizophrenia than in patients with other non-organic psychosis, and these traits were associated with later onset of schizophrenia. Premorbid schizoid traits were significantly commoner in patients with schizophrenia compared
PERCEPTUAL ORGANIZATION SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENTS
IN
AN ANALYSIS OF ASSAULTS DETECTED VIDEOCAMERA ON A STATE HOSPITAL WARD
BY
Jeanyung Chey* and Philip Holzman Department of Psychology, Harvard Universiry. Cambridge, MA 02138, USA Deficit in the early stage of information processing in schizophrenic patients had been suggested by pr&ious studies (Knight et al, 1985; Place and Gilmore, 1980). This study was specifically interested in examining the employment of the Gestalt laws by the patients. Gestalt psychologists established laws of perceptual organization which normals apply on visual pattern of stimuli in the 1920s. Two tasks were used. The first task, visual embedded figure task, examines the law collinearity and law of proximity, while the second task, similarity task, the law of similarity. Both tasks had been used in normal subjects (Van Kleek, 1989). The task allowed comparison of differential performances within each subject. Thus, the general deficit hypothesis of schizophrenia could be eliminated easily. Both reaction time and correct rate were measured. It was hypothesized that schizophrenics, sixteen bipolars, and sixteen normals. Schizophrenic patients displayed different pattern in employing the Gestalt laws compared to normals and other psychiatric groups. Specifics of the data will be presented. Deficit in the stage of perceptual grouping will make it possible to reconsider and specify the present attention deficit hypothesis of schizophrenia.
NON-LOCALIZING ABNORMALITIES
M.L. Crowner*, F. Peric, G. Stepcic, J. Volavka Research Department, Manhattan Psychiatric Center, Ward’s Island. NY, NY 10035, USA We have installed a closed-circuit television camera system on a secure care unit ward for the treatment of violent inpatients. The system has allowed us to videotape assaults between patients and then systematically describe assaults and events preceding them. All videotaped hitting, kicking, slapping, biting, choking or throwing objects with physical contact between patients was reviewed. Over approximately 27 months 115 patients were admitted to the ward. Most, 56%. carried an Axis 1 DSM-3 diagnosis of schizophrenia, while 26% carried a bipolar diagnosis, 10% had no Axis 1 diagnosis, and 8% had OMS diagnoses. 155 assaults were detected during the same time period. Events could be classed ,into groups according to the apparent intent of the assailant eg., play, hurt or warn. Classification was strongly related to ratings of strength of blows and to degree of staff intervention. After review of events preceeding assaults, we identified a number of well-defined behaviours that are specific predictors of assault. Some predictors, or cues, are significantly associated with certain types of fights. We will further discuss our methods and results and explore how the aggressive behaviour of a group of chronic schizophrenics relates to psychopathology.
NEUROLOGICAL IN SCHIZOPHRENIA
Scott C. Clark*, Dolores Malaspina, Abdullah Hasan, Caroline Koeppel, Jack M. Gorman Department of Clinical Psychobiology, Schizophrenia Research Unit, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA Previous studies of neurological abnormalities in psychiatric patients have demonstrated an increased incidence of non-localizing, or “soft”, neurological signs in some groups of schizophrenic patients. Using a brief assessment instrument for which we have previously reported good inter-rater reliability, we have been studying patients from a large state hospital, admissions to an inpatient research unit, and patients without a schizophrenic diagnosis. A subset of patients are being studied in both medicated and nonmedicated states. The purposes of our research include (1) Determination of the influence neuroleptic medications play in the production of “soft” signs, (2) Study of the temporal stability of these signs, and (3) Investigation of the incidence of “soft” signs in family members of patients. Results to be presented include comparison of the incidence of signs in patients with schizophrenia to those with other diagnoses, and data from patients studied both on and off medications.
PREMORBID PERSONALITY IN PATIENTS WITH FIRST ONSET PSYCHOSES T. Dalkin*, P. Murphy, C. Walder, I. Medley, G. Harrison Mapperley Hospital, Porchester Road, Nottingham, NG3 6AA, UK Some adults with schizophrenia have abnormal personalities. Recent studies suggest that there are sex differences in premorbid functioning and that men have poorer premorbid adjustment than women. The aims of this study were to investigate the association of premorbid personality, gender, age of onset and diagnosis in a prospective study of all patients with a first onset psychosis from a defined catchment area over a two year period. Personality ratings on 69 patients were made close to the time of first contact with Psychiatric Services and were blind to diagnosis. Our data shows that premorbid explosive and paranoid traits were commoner in patients with schizophrenia than in patients with other non-organic psychosis, and these traits were associated with later onset of schizophrenia. Premorbid schizoid traits were significantly commoner in patients with schizophrenia compared