Social functioning and the course of early-onset schizophrenia: five-year follow-up of a psychosocial intervention.
BACKGROUND
Schizophrenia implies severe social impairments. Since the treatment of patients with schizophrenia shifted from long-term hospital admissions to community services, research on social functioning has become increasingly important.


OBJECTIVE
Follow-up assessment of social functioning in young patients with schizophrenia during a 5-year period after intervention.


METHODS
During intervention, families were randomised into two conditions: standard intervention and standard plus family intervention.


RESULTS
Although no differential treatment effect with regard to the course of the illness was found, patients from the standard plus family intervention condition stayed for fewer months in institutions for psychiatric patients than patients from the standard intervention condition.


CONCLUSIONS
Family intervention has helped parents to support their children, thereby diminishing institutional care.
Lenior
M E
ME
Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, MFO Psychiatrie AMC/de Meren, The Netherlands.
Dingemans
P M
PM
Linszen
D H
DH
de Haan
L
L
Schene
A H
AH
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D016896:Treatment Outcome