Case‐finding and characteristics of schizophrenic patients of recent onset in Mannheim

This paper reports on first experiences with the WHO Collaborative Study on the Assessment and Reduction of Psychiatric Disability in schizophrenic patients in Mannheim and gives a description of the patient cohort. Screening criteria and procedure of 70 new schizophrenic patients, who were included in our cohort between 1.1.1978 and 20.9.1978 are described. This patient group has so far been followed‐up twice in half‐year intervals with the described instruments, used in all participating centers. First results of the initial assessment (diagnostic grouping, average length of stay, demographic data) and related hypotheses are presented.