Classification and prognosis of psychoses.

This article is a report of the symposium "classification and outcome of psychoses" (Jerusalem, 20 June 1982, 13th CINP-congress). As for scientific as for clinical reasons, there is a large need for a good and operational classification system. Different classification systems are examined. The longitudinal ones (DSM-III, Feighner and to a lesser extent RDC) are able to identify a group of schizophrenics with poor outcome. This is mainly due to the time-criterion. Concluding comments are given on the procedure how to investigate and to identify schizophrenics with good prognosis.