[Outcome of schizophrenia in Asia: from the viewpoint of comparison between developed and developing countries]

The majority of the population in Asia lives in developing countries. Large-scale, international outcome studies coordinated by the WHO concluded that outcomes for schizophrenia in developing countries were better than those in developed countries. However, hospital-based outcome studies in Asian countries do not consistently support this finding, illustrating the diversity of outcomes in schizophrenia Moreover, community-based outcome studies in developing Asian countries highlight the fact that there are many individuals with schizophrenia who have never been treated, and that outcomes for this group are poor if they remain untreated. Furthermore, some studies in these countries have reported high mortality rates associated with schizophrenia Future studies in Asian countries should further investigate the relationship of accessibility of mental health services and sociocultural factors to the prognosis of schizophrenia. Research should also explore strategies for providing appropriate treatment for individuals with schizophrenia.