Schizophrenia Research
Volume 77, Issue 1 , Pages 75-84, 1 September 2005

Scale for the evaluation of communication disorders in patients with schizophrenia: A validation study

  • Nadine Bazin

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier de Versailles, Le Chesnay, France
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Service de Psychiatrie, Centre Hospitalier de Versailles, 177 rue de Versailles, 78150 Le Chesnay, France. Tel.: +33 1 39 63 93 80; fax: +33 1 39 63 95 34.
    • ,
  • Yves Sarfati

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier de Versailles, Le Chesnay, France
    • University of Versailles-Saint Quentin, Versailles, France
    • ,
  • Frédéric Lefrère

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier de Versailles, Le Chesnay, France
    • ,
  • Christine Passerieux

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier de Versailles, Le Chesnay, France
    • ,
  • Marie-Christine Hardy-Baylé

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier de Versailles, Le Chesnay, France
    • University of Versailles-Saint Quentin, Versailles, France

Received 18 January 2005; accepted 30 January 2005.

Abstract 

Objective

A scale for the evaluation of communication disorders in patients with schizophrenia (Schizophrenia Communication Disorder Scale-SCD) is proposed based on studies showing that cognitive disorders specific to the disorganization seen in schizophrenia consist of context processing deficits and problems in the attribution of mental states. Thus the focus of this scale is on the cognitive difficulties revealed in conversation during a structured interview.

Method

Fifty-six patients with schizophrenia, depression or mania were evaluated.

Results and conclusion

Significantly elevated scores on the SCD were present in patients with schizophrenia compared to all other groups. Thus, this scale adds to the tools available for evaluating the language of patients with schizophrenia and helps focus on characteristics that are specific to this psychotic diagnosis.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, Disorganization, Language evaluation scale, Communication disorders

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PII: S0920-9964(05)00065-4

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2005.01.020

Schizophrenia Research
Volume 77, Issue 1 , Pages 75-84, 1 September 2005

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