A Comparison Study of Early Non-psychotic Deviant Behavior in Afrikaner and US Patients With Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder

This article examined the demographic, syndrome course, symptom & early deviant behavior history of 109 Afrikaner probands & 109 American probands diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Afrikaner participants with early fears/chronic sadness were 3 times more likely to attempt suicide, while among American participants, this form of early deviance only increased risk for later schizoaffective disorder, & sensory hallucinations. The authors conclude that these differing correlations indicate a distinct subtype of patients in the Afrikaner population. (21 refs) (SC)