Psychological differentiation and process-reactive schizophrenia.

Kept 51 male schizophrenics in a psychiatric receiving hospital drug free for a period of testing. The Rod-and-Frame Test (RFT) showed a curvilinear correlation coefficient of .28 with the Phillips Prognostic Rating Scale (PRS). The midrange on the RFT showed a good prognosis, with the process cases being at the extremes of the RFT scores. There was a significant relationship between RFT and duration of hospital stay at 1 and 2 yr. but not after 3 yr. of follow-up. The readmission pattern suggested that intermediate cases on the RFT leave the hospital sooner but return more frequently. Data fail to demonstrate a relationship between RFT and measures of conceptual plasticity, abstract attitude, severity of schizophrenic thought disorder, and severity of reality disruption. (21 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)