RECOGNITION OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS FROM VOICE QUALITY*

Through the rating of certain predetermined items with a group of 74 psychiatric patients with varying diagnoses and a group of 46 schizophrenic patients, the following areas were studied: (1) psychiatric symptomatology, (2) voice characteristics determined when listening to a record interview, (3) the personality of the patient perceived by the listener using the same recording. The relationships between the items in the three areas were tested by chi-square analysis. Significant relationships were established. The vocal characteristics speech rate and melody are linked to the perceived degree of extroversion and dynamism of the subject listened to. Some psychiatric symptoms (impaired motor behaviour, withdrawal syndrome, anxiety, thinking disturbance) are related to certain voice characteristics. Some symptoms of schizophrenia and manic-depressive psychosis are related to personality traits perceived by the listener (passive, unemotional, uncommunicative, depressed....)