[The clinical picture and dynamics of long-term late remissions in the outcome of shift-like schizophrenia].

In 59 patients with shift-like schizophrenia above 60 years the author studied some clinical traits and the development of long-term (10--20 years and more) hypersthenic, paranoial and psycopath-like remissions. The development of such remissions actually reflected the tendency to a regressive course and a stabilization of the process at old age. There was a slow extinguishing of affective swings which were observed in the majority of the cases in the initial stages of such remissions. There was also an alleviation of productive disorders (paranoial, hallucinatory, psychopath-like, abscessional, etc.) as well as a certain compensation of negative disturbance. At the age of 55--65 the patients displayed a long-term stable condition with a monotonous (mainly hypersthenic) mood, rudimentary psychotic symptoms, certain personality abnormalities, an increased level of social adaptation and working capacity.