The effects of chronicity of disorder and length of hospitalization on the standardized version off Luria's Neuropsychological Battery in a schizophrenic population.

Assessed whether chronicity of disorder and length of hospitalization affected the ability of the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery (LNNB) to discriminate between schizophrenic and brain damaged patients and the ways in which schizophrenic patients' performance differed from normal controls'. In 72 patients (mean age 36.96 yrs) with varying degrees of chronicity and length of hospitalization, neither variable significantly affected LNNB scores. Schizophrenics, however, did differ significantly from controls and could be classified into 2 groups: one with performance clearly indicative of brain damage and one with performance clearly indicative of normal brain function. It is suggested that the actual presence of brain damage may be the key factor in overall group performance rather than factors such as chronicity of disorder and length of hospitalization, at least on the LNNB.