| Abstract: | A test measuring knowledge of unusual meanings of familiar words was constructed, and was hypothesized to be more sensitive than traditional vocabulary tests to language impairment in schizophrenic and brain-damaged patients. In addition, the oft-noted inferiority of these patients on tests of abstract reasoning, as compared to vocabulary tests, was hypothesized to be a function of insensitivity of usual vocabulary tests. The new test provides evidence supporting both hypotheses in schizophrenic but not in brain-damaged patients. The results suggest that the similar outcome of impaired abstract reasoning in brain damage and schizophrenia may results from different processes in each disorder. (16 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
