The "group of schizophrenias" describes a heterogeneous nosological construct with a variable course of the illness. Against this background, several historical approaches to course typologies of schizophrenic psychoses have been described (Bleuler; Huber; Leonhard; Watt, Katz and Shepherd). These concepts, however, differ considerably from each other, in particular with respect to the definition of outcomes. This mainly results from the reference to different psychopathological traditions. The possible codings of subgroups and course types of schizophrenic psychoses in ICD-10 and DSM-5 are compromises in order to combine the different aspects. The empirical examination and the advancement of course typologies of schizophrenic disorders using modern instruments and analyses are important tasks for current psychiatric research. Such efforts should combine quantitative-statistical analyses with a casuistic approach.
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