The 15-year outcome of Chinese patients with schizophrenia in Hong Kong.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the differential outcome of schizophrenia in developed and developing countries. The 15-year outcome of patients with schizophrenia in Hong Kong is reported.


METHODS
In a 15-year retrospective outcome study, 100 patients with first-onset schizophrenia in 1977-1978 were randomly selected for outcome assessment from a pool of 797 patient files. The patterns of outcome were assessed by the same set of instruments and methodology as in other centres, since Hong Kong is 1 of the World Health Organization (WHO) centres for the International Study of Schizophrenia (ISoS).


RESULTS
Nineteen subjects were untraceable, and 10 subjects committed suicide. More than one-half of the subjects had a good symptomatic outcome, while about 20% of the subjects were rated as having a good psychosocial adjustment. Over the entire 15-year period, 96% of the subjects were maintained on medications, and 79% were living with family members.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite Hong Kong's developed economy, its schizophrenia outcome is similar to that in developing countries. The existence of good family support and active follow-up treatment may be important contributory factors to better outcome.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong. HRMCLWH@HKUCC.HKU.HK
P W
PW
Lee
F
F
Lieh-Mak
M C
MC
Wong
A S
AS
Fung
K Y
KY
Mak
J
J
Lam
D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome