100 years of DSM-III paranoia. How stable a diagnosis over time?

Modified stricter criteria for DSM-III paranoia were fulfilled by 63 (37%) of 169 Heidelberg probands given a diagnosis of "Case Record Paranoia" (CRP) during a 100-year period (1878-1977). Clinical findings were chiefly interpreted in light of the controversial issues of age, illness duration and type of delusional content pertinent to the formulation of a present-day valid definition for this disorder. With respect to diagnostic consistency over time, 56% of DSM-III paranoia cases with at least one further Heidelberg admission proved to be non-stable, non-consistency being overwhelmingly due to a change in a DSM-III schizophrenic direction.