[The analysis of factors prior to positive symptoms relapse in schizophrenia]

Schizophrenic relapses are an important problem for the sick persons and the society. They decrease the quality of patients' and their families life and also increase treatment costs. The aim of the study was to evaluate the type and frequency of the following factors during six months prior to relapse: patient non-compliance with pharmacotherapy, substance use, doctor's mistakes in antipsychotic treatment, absence of patient and family psychoeducation, stress situations, occurrence of physical disturbances and presence of additional psychiatric diagnosis. The studied group was composed of 60 patients with the diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia (according to DSM-IV) that fulfilled the relapse criteria and were admitted in turn to psychiatric departments. Data were collected by specially constructed Questionnaire of Factors Prior to Schizophrenic Relapse. In the studied group the most frequent "risk factor" prior to relapse was patient non-compliance with pharmacological treatment (in 51.7% of subjects).