A three-stage sequential criterion analysis based on the Goldfried-D'Zurilla behavior model is presented as a heuristic approach for studying chronic illness. The three interrelated stages consist of: (a) problem identification, (b) response enumeration, and (c) response evaluation. The utility of this systematic approach for understanding the adaptive process, helping to identify patients who might benefit from intervention, providing content for actual intervention, and reducing the myth of homogeneity among chronic patient populations for both clinicians and researches, is discussed. Examples of the utility of the criterion analysis are provided throughout the paper.

Regression as a descriptive concept in schizophrenia was evaluated using L. E. Gottesman's 1964 forced-choice word association technique. Gottesman's finding that schizophrenics chose more children's associations than normals was extended. The present investigation compared diagnostic subtypes and premorbid adjustment within schizophrenia using both male and female patients. A 40item, forced-choice word association test was administered to paranoid, nonparanoid, process, and reactive schizophrenics. The total number of responses typical of children, minus irrelevant responses, was analyzed. Paranoid schizophrenics gave significantly fewer responses of the type that children produce than nonparanoid schizophrenics, which was interpreted as supporting the regression theory.The authors express their appreciation to Richard R. Bootzin for his helpful comments. Thanks are also due to the staff of VA Hospital, Downey, Illinois for their assistance.

Responsiveness under stress was measured through music preferences for 11 male and 9 female schizophrenics receiving no antipsychotic medication. Results indicated that higher responsiveness was related to lower skin conductance, fewer body movements, greater diastolic blood pressure decrease, better word recall, and shorter periods of institutionalization. Normal controls did not differ significantly in music preferences but were lower in all physiological measures. Finding that sweat gland activity, muscle tension, and diastolic blood pressure changes were related to stress in these acute schizophrenics paralleled the findings of Ax, Banford, Beckett, Domino, and Gottlieb with chronic schizophrenics. The interpretation that responsiveness is related to ability to cope with stress in schizophrenia was supported by the results of the current study.

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