Memory deficit and long-term outcome in schizophrenia: a preliminary study.
Twenty-two schizophrenic patients who presented memory deficit at admission were followed up over a 30- to 40-year period along with 178 schizophrenic patients without memory deficit. Memory deficit at admission predicted poor outcome in marital, occupational, and psychiatric outcome categories. The symptoms and signs of memory deficit were assessed without knowledge of the patient's status at admission. A significantly higher proportion of the memory deficit group continued to show both symptoms and signs of memory deficit at followup. Thus, the presence of memory deficit in schizophrenics was a highly stable variable across a 30- to 40-year period. Implications of the preliminary results of this study are discussed, had future studies are suggested.
D000328:Adult; D000647:Amnesia / Q000523:psychology; D003221:Confusion / Q000523:psychology; D003702:Delusions / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology