Symptomatic response to antipsychotics differs between recent onset and recurrent chronic schizophrenic patients.
The symptomatic response to standard antipsychotic treatment was assessed over the first 4 weeks of hospitalisation in 39 patients with DSM-III schizophrenia, active phase, using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). While highly significant improvement was noted overall, 36% of patients either did not improve or worsened. Furthermore there was no diminution in the withdrawal-retardation factor of the BPRS. Patients experiencing their first admission to hospital, all with recent-onset illness, were then compared with patients who presented with a recurrence and had illness of at least 3 years duration. Despite similarities in overall response, withdrawal-retardation scores did not diminish in recent-onset patients, in contrast to multiple admissions who demonstrated significant improvement. These findings suggest greater responsiveness of negative symptoms to treatment in patients with longstanding illness, and possibly a poorer prognosis in first admission patients with deficit manifestations.
National Health and Medical Research Council Schizophrenia Research Unit, Royal Park Hospital, Victoria.
C
C
Hill
N A
NA
Keks
H
H
Jackson
J
J
Kulkarni
D
D
Hannah
D
D
Copolov
B
B
Singh
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents