Langfeldt's schizophreniform psychoses fifty years later

Br J Psychiatry. 1990 Sep:157:351-4. doi: 10.1192/bjp.157.3.351.

Abstract

As a result of follow-up studies published in 1937 and 1939, Langfeldt divided schizophrenia into two groups; 'typical schizophrenia' which had a poor outcome, and the 'schizophreniform psychoses' which had a less typical clinical picture of schizophrenia and a good outcome. Langfeldt's cases of schizophreniform psychoses were reclassified according to the ICD-9 and DSM-III-R diagnostic systems. Most of the schizophreniform psychoses did not appear 'schizophrenia-like' at all, but turned out to be mainly affective disorders. Those included in Langfeldt's diagnosis of 'schizophreniform psychoses' were found to be too heterogenous to validate the existence of this syndrome.

Publication types

  • Biography
  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • History, 20th Century
  • Humans
  • Norway
  • Prognosis
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Psychotic Disorders / diagnosis
  • Psychotic Disorders / history*
  • Schizophrenia / diagnosis
  • Schizophrenia / history*

Personal name as subject

  • G Langfeldt