A descriptive study of the cohort characteristics of subjects in the ongoing Ball State University heart disease study

Abstract

Forty-nine older, institutionalized, chronic schizophrenics were tested with the Whitaker Index of Schizophrenic Thinking (WIST) to measure the presence and severity of a thought disorder. Ward behavior was rated in six areas (social competence, social interest, personal neatness, irritability, overt psychosis, and psychomotor retardation) with the Nurses' Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation (NOSIE-30) to determine overall level of functioning. As predicted, a significant inverse correlation was found between the WIST and Total Assets (r = -.44, p. < .001). Contrary to previous studies, significant inverse relationships were found between the WIST and Social Competence (r = -.45, p < .001) and WIST and Social Interest (r_ = -.40, p. <.01). No significant gender or race differences were found on either the WIST or the NOSIE-30. Age, education level, length of hospitalization, and medication dosage were not significantly related to the WIST or NOSIE-30 overall functioning, or any specific area of functioning.