Måling af klinisk demens i relation til positive og negative symptomer ved skizofreni

Abstract

I Since the concept of dementia praecox was introduced, the focus on symptoms of schizophrenia has mainly been on the positive symptoms. The new rating scales are describing both positive and negative symptoms stressing the importance of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. These symptoms bear a remarkable resemblance to the symptoms of dementia. We examined 36 elderly patients using the BPRS and a dementia scale which had content validity to ICD-10 and DSM-HI-R. 22 patients fulfilled DSM-III-R criteria for dementia. In this group a Spearman correlation factor of 0.63 was found between the BPRS and the Dementia Scale. A high Spearman correlation of 0.84 was found using a subscale of the BPRS consisting of the delusional items and a subscale of the Dementia Scale consisting of as well positive symptoms (psychosis) as symptoms defined in DSM-III-R, which we define as negative symptoms. This illustrates the shared symptoms of schizophrenia and dementia. As is the case with schizophrenia, rating scales for dementia using both positive symptoms as well as negative seems best suited to give the full picture of the dementia syndrome. An example of such a scale is shown. D Common positive and negative symptoms, Dementia, Rating scales, Schizophrenia.