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Martin Harrow, PhD; David Adler, MD; Edith Hanf, MSW

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1974;31(1):27-33.

Abstract
Ninety-five psychiatric inpatients (25 schizophrenic, 23 borderline, and 47 nonschizophrenic patients) were assessed on six indices of abstract and concrete thinking, during two stages of their disorder (acute phase and phase of partial recovery).

The level of abstract and concrete thinking in nonchronic patients was influenced by several factors. (1) During the prechronic phases diagnosis (schizophrenic vs nonschizophrenic) exerted some influence, but was not the most prominent factor. Evidence suggested, however, that during later chronic phases schizophrenic subjects may be extremely concrete. (2) Process schizophrenics tended to be less abstract than reactive schizophrenics. (3) The phase of the disorder exerted some influence (during active or acutely disturbed stages patients were less abstract). (4) The most powerful influence on the abstract-concrete dimension was intelligence. (5) Idiosyncratic thinking was an important negative influence on ability to abstract.

Author Affiliations
Chicago; Boston; New Haven, Conn

From Michael Reese Medical Center and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, Chicago (Dr. Harrow), Harvard Medical School, Boston (Dr. Adler), and Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn (Ms. Hanf).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Nov 30, 1973.

Reprint requests to Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, Psychosomatic and Psychiatric Institute, 29th Street and Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616 (Dr. Harrow).

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