R Mojtabai1. 1. Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Three hypotheses have been proposed in regard to the origin of cycloid psychoses: (1) they are an independent nosological entity; (2) they are atypical cases of affective disorders; and (3) they are a heterogeneous group of disorders. This study examined the heterogeneity hypothesis by attempting to delineate distinct affective and non-affective subgroups. METHODS: In 60 cases drawn from a classic study of cycloid psychoses by Perris (1974), latent class analysis was used to delineate subgroups. RESULTS: Two classes were identified in the analysis: one characterized by the convergence of affective symptoms and family history of affective disorders and the other by the relative paucity of such features. CONCLUSIONS: Cycloid psychoses are composed of at least two subgroups, distinguishable on the basis of symptoms and family history.
BACKGROUND: Three hypotheses have been proposed in regard to the origin of cycloid psychoses: (1) they are an independent nosological entity; (2) they are atypical cases of affective disorders; and (3) they are a heterogeneous group of disorders. This study examined the heterogeneity hypothesis by attempting to delineate distinct affective and non-affective subgroups. METHODS: In 60 cases drawn from a classic study of cycloid psychoses by Perris (1974), latent class analysis was used to delineate subgroups. RESULTS: Two classes were identified in the analysis: one characterized by the convergence of affective symptoms and family history of affective disorders and the other by the relative paucity of such features. CONCLUSIONS: Cycloid psychoses are composed of at least two subgroups, distinguishable on the basis of symptoms and family history.