BJP RCPsych Publications
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Psychiatric Bulletin Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Ciompi, L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Ciompi, L.

The British Journal of Psychiatry 145: 636-640 (1984)
© 1984 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Is there really a schizophrenia? The long-term course of psychotic phenomena

L Ciompi

The author fundamentally questions the traditional concept of the disease-entity (or several disease entities) of 'schizophrenia' and discusses an alternative concept, based on vulnerability and information-processing. According to this, schizophrenia-like psychotic phenomena develop in three phases. In the first, premorbid phase, combined biological (genetic and possibly other organic) and psycho- social influences lead to a premorbid 'vulnerability', characterised by a low tolerance of cognitive and emotional stress, corresponding to an insufficient capacity for the adequate processing of complex information. In the second phase, stressful life-events can lead to unique or repeated acute productive psychotic episodes. The third phase, that of long-term evolution, depends more on psycho-social influences than on biological factors. Under unfavourable conditions, it may lead to predominantly unproductive residual states of various degrees, which can largely be understood as regulatory mechanisms to restrict stressful over-stimulation. There is no clearly delimitable disease entity of schizophrenia with constant causes, psychopathological picture, or course, but rather a multi-conditioned life-process, occurring in people with a particular vulnerability, interacting with complex life-events and circumstances. This new concept has important consequences for therapy and prevention.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 History of PsychiatryHome page
T. Greene
The Kraepelinian dichotomy: the twin pillars crumbling?
History of Psychiatry, September 1, 2007; 18(71 Pt 3): 361 - 379.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Research on Social Work PracticeHome page
J. R. Bola
Psychosocial Acute Treatment in Early-Episode Schizophrenia Disorders
Research on Social Work Practice, May 1, 2006; 16(3): 263 - 275.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Int J Soc PsychiatryHome page
B.-C. Shu, F.-W. Lung, Y.-C. Lu, G. A. Chase, and P. Pan
Care of Patients With Chronic Mental Illness: Comparison of Home and Half-Way House Care
International Journal of Social Psychiatry, June 1, 2001; 47(2): 52 - 62.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 BMJHome page
A S Conway, D Melzer, and A S Hale
The outcome of targeting community mental health services: evidence from the West Lambeth schizophrenia cohort
BMJ, March 5, 1994; 308(6929): 627 - 630.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Psychiatric Bulletin Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals
Copyright © 1984 The Royal College of Psychiatrists.