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The type—token ratio in schizophrenic disorders: clinical and research value

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Theo C. Manschreck ,
Brendan A. Maher ,
Toni M. Hoover  and
Donna Ames
Theo C. Manschreck*
Affiliation:
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Brendan A. Maher
Affiliation:
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Toni M. Hoover
Affiliation:
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Donna Ames
Affiliation:
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Theo C. Manschreck Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Fruit Street, Boston, Ma 02114, USA.
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Synopsis

Prior research has indicated that the type-token ratio (TTR), a measure of repetition in language, correlates with clinical judgements of thought disorder when spoken language was examined, and differentiates statistically thought-disordered from non-thought-disordered schizophrenics and psychiatric and normal controls. We replicated this finding and examined the clinical sensitivity and specificity of the TTR measure in the diagnosis and in the assessment of thought disorder. The current clinical value of the TTR is limited, but further investigations of the nature of repetition in schizophrenic language are warranted.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 14 , Issue 1 , February 1984 , pp. 151 - 157
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984

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