title: Factors affecting relapse in schizophrenia.
abstract: 96 first episode schizophrenic patients were included for a prospective follow-up study on factors affecting course and outcome of schizophrenia. Feighner's diagnostic criteria were used for inclusion and a yearly assessment was made using the Present State Examination and the Personal and Psychiatric History Schedule. At the end of 3 years, 64 patients had been followed up. Of these, 38 patients had one or more relapses. A comparison of the relapsing group with the non-relapsers revealed certain variables to be significantly associated with relapses. Some of these were regularity of follow-up, presence of affective symptoms and self-neglect and lack of social contacts. The importance of recognising these factors in order to prevent relapses in schizophrenia is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Madras Medical College, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajkumar
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012931:Social Environment