A 16-year follow-up study of schizophrenia and related disorders in Sofia, Bulgaria.
A total of 60 patients with functional non-affective psychoses were assessed 16 years after their inclusion in the WHO co-ordinated study on reduction and assessment of psychiatric disability. All patients at inclusion had a recent onset of a psychotic disorder. About one-third of the patients had a good outcome. The rest showed moderate to severe psychiatric symptoms and social disability. Comparison with other similar studies suggested that our results show a low mortality rate, high levels of clinical symptoms, high levels of social disability and a low percentage of institutionalized patients. These findings are discussed in the context of the high level of family involvement in patients' care, which could reflect a cultural factor.
Ganev
K
K
WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Onchev
G
G
Ivanov
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002031:Bulgaria; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment