A 15-year follow-up study of Chinese schizophrenic patients

A cohort of 330 Chinese schizophrenic patients below age 40 were interviewed 5, 10 and 15 years later to determine which variables could predict their outcome. There were 189 males (57%) and 141 females (43%). At the end of 15 years, 48 (15%) died (34 (10%) from suicide). At the end of 5, 10 and 15 years, the percentages of patients still able to work were 55%, 54% and 48%, and still receiving treatment were 45%, 41% and 45% respectively. The patients who were well in 1990 had fewer readmissions. The only variables that consistently predicted outcome was duration of illness. Age and education level were fairly useful in predicting outcome. Sex, family history, work status, marital status, alcohol, drug and suicide history, and such symptoms as thought disorder, affective blunting, depression, delusions and hallucinations were not useful in predicting outcome.