Mood, motor, and speech abnormalities in schizophrenia, mania, and other psychotic disorders: a comparative analysis

Background: Although schizophrenia is conceptualised as psychosis that affects predominantly thought and, mania that affects mood, careful observation of the psychopathology indicates that there is considerable overlap of mood, motor, and speech abnormalities between various psychotic disorders. Aims: This study aimed to examine the nature and types of mood, motor, and speech abnormalities present in schizophrenia, mania, and other psychotic disorders and, compare the nature of these abnormalities. Method: In total, 90 patients (divided equally between three study groups) were recruited for study participation via systematic random sampling. Mood, motor, and speech abnormalities were assessed using the Present State Examination, version 10 in the Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry. Results: Rates of expansive and irritable mood in patients with mania were significantly higher relative to those observed in patients with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. However, other symptoms such as reduced sleep and socially embarrassing behaviour did not differ significantly between the three groups. Rates of bizarre and irrelevant behaviour, poor personal hygiene and habits observed in patients with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders were higher relative to those observed in patients with mania. Rates of blunting and flattening of affect in patients with schizophrenia were significantly higher relative to those observed in mania and other psychotic disorders. Conclusion: Although the frequency with which some abnormalities were observed was significantly higher in some psychotic disorders, others such as neglect of common dangers and socially embarrassing behaviour did not differ significantly between the three groups.