Clinical Neuropsychiatry (2016) 13, 3, 43-49 DEVELOPMENT OF THE GERMAN SCREENING TEST (KKT) FOR CONCRETISTIC THOUGHT DISORDER – A PILOT STUDY

Objective: Concretism is a well-known symptom in patients with schizophrenia. Our aim was to develop a screening tool for the use in in early recognition of psychosis. Method: Subjects referred to the early recognition centre at the Psychiatric Services in Münsterlingen/Switzerland completed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery including multiple choice proverb items. Results: The performance on the multiple choice proverb items of patients in an at risk mental state and first episode patients differed significantly from patients with other psychiatric diagnosis. We optimised discriminant validity and efficiency of the test by deleting items. Conclusions: The present study suggests that a short proverb test can efficiently and effectively discriminate between patients at risk of psychosis or psychosis and patient controls.