Abstract
The paper presents the state-of-the-art knowledge about schizophrenic psychoses with their onset in late life. This is most probably a group of heterogeneous disorders with the prevalence rate between 2 and 9 percent in the general population. Female sex seems to be a risk factor. Psychotic symptoms are usually less pronounced than in younger patients, while recognized cognitive disorders are of diverse nature. Reports concerning etiology of the disorder are equivocal. Atypical neuroleptics are preferred in the treatment. Prognosis is more favourable than in younger patients, but full recovery is rare. The problem requires further study.