Prospects of rehabilitation for elderly schizophrenics.

The psychopathology and disabilities of a group of institutionalised elderly schizophrenics were compared with those of a group of non-schizophrenic elderly, and with younger schizophrenics reported in a parallel study and in the literature. Elderly schizophrenics showed significantly more psychopathology and disability than the non-schizophrenic elderly; however, they exhibited less psychopathology than younger schizophrenics. Disability among elderly schizophrenics was not correlated with chronicity of institutionalisation or psychopathology. There was a suggestion that disability among elderly schizophrenics may be due to organic deterioration.