1. Recovery from psychotic illness: a 15- and 25-year international follow-up study.
- Author
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Harrison, G., Hopper, K., Craig, T., Laska, E., Siegel, C., Wanderling, J., Dube, K. C., Ganev, K., Giel, R., An Der Heiden, W., Holmberg, S. K., Janca, A., Lee, P.W. H., Leon, C. A., Malhotra, S., Marsella, A. J., Nakane, Y., Sartorius, N., Shen, Y., and Skoda, C.
- Subjects
SCHIZOPHRENIA ,MENTAL illness ,PSYCHOSES ,PSYCHIATRIC treatment ,PATHOLOGICAL psychology ,PSYCHIATRY - Abstract
Background: Poorly defined cohorts and weak study designs have hampered cross-cultural comparisons of course and outcome in schizophrenia.Aims: To describe long-term outcome in 18 diverse treated incidence and prevalence cohorts. To compare mortality, 15- and 25-year illness trajectory and the predictive strength of selected baseline and short-term course variables.Methods: Historic prospective study. Standardised assessments of course and outcome.Results: About 75% traced. About 50% of surviving cases had favourable outcomes, but there was marked heterogeneity across geographic centres. In regression models, early (2-year) course patterns were the strongest predictor of 15-year outcome, but recovery varied by location; 16% of early unremitting cases achieved late-phase recovery.Conclusions: A significant proportion of treated incident cases of schizophrenia achieve favourable long-term outcome. Sociocultural conditions appear to modify long-term course. Early intervention programmes focused on social as well as pharmacological treatments may realise longer-term gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2001
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