[Linguo-statistical indices of speech production of schizophrenics].

Using a linguostatistical method of examination, the author analyzed texts produced by 19 patients with the delirious syndrome, 20 patients with the hallucinational-delirious syndrome and 112 healthy subjects. On the basis of protocols in which those examined gave written definitions of 10 notions, 3 frequency alphabetic lists have been made up for each group of the patients and normal individuals. It has been established that verbosity, vagueness of definition and inadequate differentiation of the main and secondary signs are objectively manifested in the schizophrenic patients in an increase of a relative richness of vocabulary and of the proportion of rarely used words. Redistribution of parts of speech expressed in diminution of the proportion of verbs because of the predominance of pronouns and adverbs is explained by a reduced ability to formulate utterances, probably due to autism.