[The Eppendorf Schizophrenia Inventory (ESI). Development and evaluation of a questionnaire for assessment of characteristic self perception of cognitive dysfunctions by schizophrenic patients].

This study explored characteristic subjective experiences of schizophrenia. A questionnaire for self-assessment of disturbances in several cognitive and perceptual areas (the Eppendorf Schizophrenia Inventory, or ESI) was constructed and administered to first-episode schizophrenics (SCHe, n = 45), negative syndrome schizophrenics (SCHn, n = 45), remitted schizophrenics (SCHr, n = 24), depressives (DEP, n = 43), alcoholics (ALK, n = 48), obsessive-compulsive patients (ZWA, n = 46), and healthy controls (KON, n = 57). Comparisons between the SCHe, SCHn, DEP, ALK, and ZWA groups and a subsequent factor analysis revealed four schizophrenia-specific dimensions: attention and speech impairment (AS), ideas of reference (IR), auditory uncertainty (AU), and deviant perception (DP). Further analyses suggested that the AS syndrome may represent a mediating vulnerability factor while IR, AU, and DP probably are reversible episode indicators. The results may contribute to refinements in the measurement of specific prepsychotic signs, thus facilitating the development of early intervention approaches.