[Residual dimension and defect].

Abstract

We approached the current problem of the residual dimension of psychoses, a problem of significance from both the psychopathological and social-psychiatric viewpoint by studying two well-matched groups of patients suffering from cycloid (schizo-affective) psychosis and hebephrenia. On the basis of the short-term course of the psychosis, we reached the following conclusions: 1. The residual dimension is not uniform, not homogenous and is not nosologically neutral, but is complex, multifold and nosospecific to a significant extent. 2. Assessment of the residual syndrome on "vorgestalt" level is indispensable for analysis of the residual dimension in cycloid psychotics and is also value in the case of heberphrenics (within the group of systematic schizophrenics). 3. We speak of a clinical defect in the case of a stable link between manifest symptoms which point more towards a disorder in the life functions and symptoms of resocialization more related to the life history; detectable defect is used in referring to a stable link between symptoms which are detectable (by test psychology methods) and disorders in resocialization. It must be stressed that the assessment of the psychiatric defect is a doubly resignated way of knowledge as compared to defects which can be evaluated on the anthropological level; however the empirical value derives precisely from the consciously accepted limitation. 4. We found clinical defects only in the heberphrenics. A cognitive defect was detected in the cycloids and a personally defect in the heberphrenics.