2001 issue 1

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Volume 10, issue 1

Psychiatria

Late onset schizophrenic psychoses

URSZULA DŁUGOŃ1
1. II Klinika Psychiatryczna Instytutu Psychiatrii i Neurologii w Warszawie
Postępy Psychiatrii i Neurologii, 2001, 10, 45-57
Keywords: late life psychoses, late onset schizophrenia, paraphrenia

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.

Address for correspondence:
Lek. Urszula Długoń,
II Klinika Psychiatryczna Instytutu Psychiatrii i Neurologii,
Al. Sobieskiego 1/9,
02-957 Warszawa