Comparison of a Speech-Language Assessment Tool for Pragmatic and Discourse Skills in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

The scientific literature has largely objectified language disorders in schizophrenia. And more precisely, the impairment of pragmatic and discursive language skills. Currently, there is no standardized language assessment tool specific to these patients. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of a newly developed speech-language assessment tool for pragmatic and discourse skills for patients suffering from schizophrenia .

The scientific literature has largely objectified language disorders in schizophrenia. And more precisely, the impairment of pragmatic and discursive language skills. Currently, there is no standardized language assessment tool specific to these patients. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of a newly developed speech-language assessment tool for pragmatic and discourse skills for patients suffering from schizophrenia. To do so, patients will have to pass six tests: three tests of the new tool and three corresponding gold standard tests. The first two tests will assess pragmatic skills by means of a semi-directed interview. The next two tests will assess discourse skills through two image description tasks. Finally, the last two tests will evaluate narrative skills through the oral restitution of two heard texts. The main objective is to compare the performance of schizophrenic patients detected in the pathological zone with the scales of the new tool versus the gold standard scales. The secondary objective is to determine which skills are most affected by comparing patients' scores in pragmatic skills versus those in discourse skills. This tool would allow to precisely objectify language disorders and to optimize the multidisciplinary diagnosis and care of patients suffering from schizophrenia.