Hebephrenia as the most prevalent subtype of schizophrenia in Japan.

The author reviewed the frequency of the hebephrenic subtype compared to the paranoid subtype diagnosis of schizophrenia in Japan, using research papers and statistical reports that have been published during this century. It was found that the reported rates for the hebephrenic subtype ranged from a low of 23% to a high of 68% with the majority falling between 30% and 50%. These rates had not varied significantly over a long period of time or across wide geographical areas. It was discussed that Japanese psychiatrists were so sensitive to the negative symptoms of schizophrenia that they had a broader concept of hebephrenia as compared to other Kraepelian subtypes in schizophrenia.