Psychopathological verbal expression of self-perceived stress in three groups of psychotic patients

Producción CientíficaSelf-perceived stress in 293 psychotic patients (schizophrenic, toxic and brief reactive psychoses) and a control group of 40 sane individuáis was evaluated by means of the Frankfurt Complaint Questionnaire. For this purpose, scores obtained in 6 'complementary Ítems' of the third versión of this questionnaire were studied, both in global and in detailed form. These Ítems reflect coping mechanisms exerted towards situations perceived as stressful which can produce clinical manifestations similar to the wellknown 'negative symptoms' of schizophrenia. Results show that self-perceived stress in all groups of patients is significantly higher than in the control group. In contrast, no significant differences among the three groups of patients are obtained. In conclusión, we point out the relevance of studying the psychotic patient's self-perceived stress in order to detect and minimize or even avoid the patient's risk situations, independen! of his/her diagnosis. This will be especially useful to obtain optimal conditions for rehabilitatio

Basic symptoms and cognitive dynamic disorders in schizophrenic patients

Producción CientíficaUsing a new scientific paradigm, chaotic-deterministic dynamics, our research group developed a new cognitive instrument which is administered by means of a computen the Test of Random Rhythm Generation (ARG). Theoretical background and preliminary results in two young male, defectual schizophrenic patients (paranoid type) are here presented. Basic symptoms were explored by means of the Frankfurt Complaint Questionnaire of FBF (Frankfurter Beschwerde-Fragebogen) and the Bonn Scale for the Assessment of Basic Symptoms of Gross et al. Possible relationships between cerebral complexity and basic symptoms are discussed. It is concluded that the ARG is a valuable technique to measure the patient's cognitive potential as well as his complexity level (or cerebral chaotic dynamic complexity). Finally, it is hypothesized that defectual psychotic patients genérate more rigid and rhythmic series than control groups. Further work must be done in this new research field