A 20-year follow-up study on schizophrenia in Singapore.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the outcome and predictors of patients with schizophrenia 20 years later.


METHODS
The patients, aged 15-39 years, with diagnosis of schizophrenia and first admitted to a national mental hospital in Singapore in 1975 were included. In 1980, 1985, 1990 and 1995, their hospital records were examined and the patients were interviewed to determine their working and treatment status. Possible predictors of good outcome and suicide data were determined.


RESULTS
A total of 402 patients were included. Over 20 years, there was lower percentage of patients working full time and proportionately more patients were receiving out-patient treatment. Overall, about two-third of the patients had a good/fair outcome. Shorter illness duration before admission was significantly associated with a good outcome. The suicide rate was the highest in the first 10 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Most patients with schizophrenia had a good/fair outcome at 20 years.
Kua
J
J
Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health & Woodbridge Hospital, Singapore, Singapore. Joshua_Kua@imh.com.sg
Wong
K E
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Kua
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Tsoi
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012846:Singapore / Q000208:ethnology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology