On the descriptive validity of ICD-10 schizophrenia: Empirical analyses in the spectrum of non-affective functional psychoses

In order to examine the descriptive validity of ICD-10
schizophrenia, 1,476 consecutively admitted in-patients were
included in the present study. ICD-10 schizophrenia (n = 951) was
compared with other non-affective psychotic disorders {[}persistent
delusional disorders (n = 51), acute and transient psychotic
disorders (n = 116) and schizoaffective disorders (n = 354)] with
respect to socio-demographic, symptomatological and other clinical
parameters. Analyses revealed that it is possible to distinguish
schizophrenia from other non-affective psychotic disorders
according to ICD-10 criteria: schizophrenic patients were
characterised by more pronounced negative symptoms and a lower
global functioning. They were younger than patients with persistent
delusional disorders and schizoaffective disorders but older than
patients with acute and transient psychotic disorders. The results
are in line with a high descriptive validity of ICD-10
schizophrenia and highlight the importance of negative symptoms for
this diagnosis. Copyright (C) 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel.