37 acute schizophrenic patients were given a test measuring the extent to which associatively linked distractors intruded inappropriately into the formation of concepts. The test was administered both on admission to the hospital and after 6 wk. of phenothiazine or placebo treatment. Distractors were divided into four levels ranging from strong to weak associative linkages with relevant concept words. Stronger associative linkages in distractors were associated with more conceptual errors at both the pre- and post-treatment points (p < .001). These findings provide further support for the view that cognitive pathology in schizophrenia is characterized by pathological distractibility rather than loss in “abstract attitude.”
References
1.
CameronN. A.Reasoning, regression and communication in schizophrenics. Psychol. Monogr., 1938, 50, No. 1 (Whole No. 221).
2.
ChapmanL. J.Intrusion of associative responses into schizophrenic conceptual performance. J. abnorm. soc. Psychol., 1958, 56, 374–379.
3.
DowningR. W.EbertJ. N.ShubrooksS. J.Effect of phenothiazines on the thinking of acute schizophrenics. Percept. mot. Skills, 1963, 17, 511–520.
4.
GoldsteinK.SheererM.Abstract and concrete behavior: An experimental study with special tests. Psychol. Monogr., 1941, 53, No. 2 (Whole No. 239).
5.
KentG. H.RosanoffA. J.A study of association in insanity. Amer. J. Insanity, 1910, 67, 37–96, 317–390.
6.
LangP. J.BussA. H.Psychological deficit in schizophrenia: II. Interference and activation. J. abnorm. Psychol., 1965, 70, 77–106.
7.
RussellW. A.JenkinsJ. J.The complete Minnesota norms for response to 100 words from the Kent-Rosanoff association test. Tech. Rep. No. 11, 1954, Univer. of Minnesota, Contract N8-ONR 66216.
8.
SnedecorG. W.Statistical methods. Ames: Iowa State College Press, 1956.
