Schizophrenic disorder in old age. III. Some demographic, social and clinical differences between schizophrenic disorder with early and late onset.

For this study the author examined 129 cases who were 65 years of age and older at the time of investigation, and who had been diagnosed as having schizophrenic disorder during their lifetime. Using a modified P-86 questionnaire and SCAG scale, heteroanamnestic data, and data available from medical histories, the demographic, social and clinical characteristics of this population were gathered. Differences were defined in regards to the above-mentioned characteristics, between the examinees whose age at the time of the onset of illness was less than 45 and those who were older. Among other things, it is evidenced that males have an earlier onset of illness, that regardless of the age at the onset of illness the present clinical picture in old age is almost equal, and that the examinees do not differ in terms of the average number of hospitalizations, their duration, the time-span between them, nor any co-existing organic mental disorder.