CONSTITUTIONAL FACTORS IN THE PROGNOSIS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

• DOI: 10.1176/ajp.107.6.434
• Publication Date: 2014-12-17T18:05:33Z
• Authors: NATHAN S. KLINE; ASHTON M. TENNEY
• Keywords: Constitution and Bylaws; Schizophrenia; Prognosis; 3. Good health

1. In a series of 2,100 consecutive admissions to the Veterans Administration Hospital, Lyons, N. J., 72% of the schizophrenics were photographed in the standardized somatotype position shortly after admission. 2. These somatotype photographs were rated by Dr. William H. Sheldon, who had no knowledge as to the diagnosis, disposition, or any other pertinent information about the patients. Since these patients were included in a much larger series made up of psychoneurotics, neurological cases, and nonneuropsychiatric patients, in addition to the schizophrenics, the rater had no way of knowing even that they were schizophrenics. 3. The patients were allowed to follow their normal course in the hospital without awareness on the part of the staff as to their somatotype rating. The staff had no particular training in possible relationships between somatotype and psychiatric factors. 4. In all, 1,000 relatively consecutive admissions were somatotyped in the present series and an extremely detailed review made o...