The British Journal of Psychiatry 138: 495-497 (1981)
© 1981 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Identity alterations and prognosis in schizophrenia
PE Yarden and CS Raps
Delusions of altered personal identity were studied over a four-year period
in 53 young schizophrenic in-patients divided into 13 with persistent
delusions, 16 with fleeting delusions and 24 with no delusions of identity
alteration at first examination. The three groups were clinically otherwise
comparable. Follow-up showed that those with persistent delusions of
altered identity had a poor prognosis and deteriorating course.