Schizophrenic disorder in old age. I. Some demographic, social and clinical characteristics.

This study discussed 129 cases who were at the time of the investigation 65 years of age and older, and in whom during their life-time schizophrenic disorder was diagnosed. Using a modified P-86 questionnaire and SCAG scale, heteroanamnestic data and data available from the patients' medical histories, demographic, social, and clinical characteristics of this population were gathered. Among other things, the article shows that the present marital status is the result of psychiatric illness, that the trend of social upward mobility exists in this population as well, and that lesions of the sphere of interest are the result of the psychiatric disorder, while the lesions of the sphere of initiative are the consequences of ageing process. It is also found that in correlation with age the clinical picture of the schizophrenic disorder becomes less "clear", and that a trend of co-existence of affective disorders is present.