Short-term social prognosis of schizophrenia

Two groups of schizophrenic patients with diametrically opposed illness outcomes were compared, 14 months after discharge, with respect to 21 parameters. The first group comprised patients who relapsed and were readmitted into hospital and the second group comprised patients who achieved satisfactory occupational rehabilitation in the community. Satisfactory occupational rehabilitation was positively associated and relapse was negatively associated with the following parameters: compliance to maintenance pharmacotherapy, satisfactory work record, compulsory admission into hospital, living apart from parents or spouse after discharge, illness precipitated by stressful events, longer duration of hospitalization and more advanced age at onset of illness. The authors express the view that awareness of the parameters influencing short-term social outcome might contribute to a more efficient management of schizophrenic patients.