Studies in obsessive ruminative tension states

Conclusions

It seems clear that the psychasthenic and schizophrenic reactions are qualitatively, as well as quantitatively, different although it is established that where both reactions occur in the individual case, they may, and frequently do, have points in common since, as a rule, they must deal with the same fundamental problem. In such instances the same topics are frequently presented in the content, but with a change characterized by loss of reality thinking. There will always occur, then, a qualitative change in general behavior as a result of this. However, the affect may remain essentially of the same quality (i. e., fear) and change only quantitatively. The material indicates also that however diffuse or intensive or quantitatively changed the psychasthenic reaction may be, it has qualitative characteristics of its own.