Stability of self-concept in schizophrenia.

This study was to investigate the stability of self-concept in nonchronic, nonparanoid schizophrenics. Self-Concept, Health-Concept, and Food-Preference questionnaires were administered to 84 Ss. Schizophrenics and controls were divided into failure and nonfailure groups (N = 21 per group). Test-retest method with failure or neutral condition immediately preceding the 2nd testing showed schizophrenics (N = 42) more variable for self-concept but not for food or health responses. Failure significantly increased self-concept variability for schizophrenics but not for controls. Schizophrenia appears to have a self-concept disorder component which manifests itself through inconsistent self-descriptions. It is suggested that some schizophrenic symptomatology may reflect efforts to establish a stable, if unrealistic, concept of self.