Patients with very-late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis: A follow-up study

Doron Mazeh*, Channa Zemishlani, Dov Aizenberg, Yoram Barak

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: The topic of course and outcome of very-late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis (VLOSLP) has not received the research attention it deserves. The aim of this study was to evaluate the course of clinical symptoms and functional status of patients with VLOSLP in comparison with patients with life-long schizophrenia. Methods: Telephone interviews were conducted on primary caregivers of 21 patients with VLOSLP who had recently been released from inpatient care. Their treating staff evaluated 21 schizophrenia inpatients according to the same criteria. Results: The majority of patients with VLOSLP did not present cognitive and functional deterioration. On the other hand, 8 of the 19 patients in the elderly schizophrenia group had some functional decline; 3 of those 8 patients seemed to have some cognitive decline, as well. Conclusions: The results suggest that the VLOSLP patients present stable cognitive and everyday functioning, as compared with chronically institutionalized elderly patients with schizophrenia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)417-419
Number of pages3
JournalAmerican Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
Volume13
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2005

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