Rating of textual associations in organized and nonorganized sentences for the assessment of semantic networks in schizophrenia

Analysis of variance calculations indicated significant differences among the 3 groups (controls, thought-disordered, and non-thought-disordered). The differences were greater for the vague sentences. Compared with controls, schizophrenic patients demonstrated increased SDs in rating associative values between concepts in the sentences, which is higher in disorganized sentences. Inadequate ability to identify and rate associations in disorganized sentences is discussed in the context of disordered semantic networks of schizophrenic patients.