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Language in schizophrenia and its relationship to formal thought disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 April 2001

S. RODRIGUEZ-FERRERA ,
R. A. McCARTHY  and
P. J. McKENNA
S. RODRIGUEZ-FERRERA
Affiliation:
Fulbourn Hospital, Addenbrooke's NHS Trust Cambridge and Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge
R. A. McCARTHY
Affiliation:
Fulbourn Hospital, Addenbrooke's NHS Trust Cambridge and Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge
P. J. McKENNA
Affiliation:
Fulbourn Hospital, Addenbrooke's NHS Trust Cambridge and Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge
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Abstract

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Background. Although poor language test performance has been documented in schizophrenia, its relationship to formal thought disorder remains unclear.

Method. Forty schizophrenic patients were administered eight language tests and, under blind conditions, rated for formal thought disorder. Measures of general intellectual function were also obtained.

Results. Performance on all language tests was significantly correlated with the general intellectual measures. Three language test scores also showed significant correlations with formal thought disorder scores. Multiple regression and analysis of intellectually preserved patients suggested particular associations of formal thought disorder with semantic comprehension and picture description.

Conclusions. General intellectual impairment is an important determinant of poor language test performance in schizophrenia, but presence of formal thought disorder may also contribute. A higher-order semantic deficit may be particularly relevant to both linguistic impairment and formal thought disorder.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 31 , Issue 2 , February 2001 , pp. 197 - 205
Copyright
© 2001 Cambridge University Press