Course and outcome in delusional psychoses. A 4-year re-follow-up.
The purpose of the study was to examine the 4-year course and outcome in first-admitted patients with delusional psychoses, and to compare the findings with those of a 2-year follow-up. The index population comprised 88 patients. At follow-up one-fifth of the patients revealed positive psychotic symptoms, half of the patients had experienced psychotic relapse, and one-fourth had remitted fully. Compared with the findings 2 years before, some statistically significant changes were disclosed: the number of patients with positive psychotic symptoms had decreased, more patients had frequent social contacts, and more patients had good outcome according to the Strauss-Carpenter outcome scale. The findings suggest that some patients need a couple of years to improve from the clinical and social aftermaths. However, in most aspects, the findings of the 2-year and the 4-year follow-ups are comparable and predict poor course and outcome for the majority, while only a minority of the patients manage fairly well.
Jørgensen
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Department C, Psychiatric Hospital, Aarhus Risskov, Denmark.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D012917:Social Adjustment
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs