Long-term depot maintenance of chronic schizophrenic out-patients: the seven year follow-up of the Medical Research Council fluphenazine/placebo trial. III. Relapse postponement or relapse prevention? The implications for long-term outcome.
The relapse and admission histories revealed a positive correlation between number of schizophrenic episodes and time on maintenance medication, probably reflecting severity of illness. Relapse rates after drug discontinuation rose to 45% within 13 months. There were no differences of predictive value between those relapsing on or off medication. The relationship between relapse rates, drug treatment, and social outcome is complex; antipsychotic drugs may postpone relapse, and frequent relapses might inhibit improvement in social performance long after florid symptoms have been controlled by medication.
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005476:Fluphenazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013997:Time Factors
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; C011825:fluphenazine depot; D005476:Fluphenazine