International schizophrenia research and the concept of patient-centredness: an analysis over two decades.
BACKGROUND
Patient-centred medicine improves psychological and physiological functioning in chronic illnesses.


OBJECTIVE
To determine to what extent the patient-centred ethos (as exemplified by research addressing subjective experiences) was incorporated into work presented at major international schizophrenia research forums between 1988 and 2004.


METHODS
Whole population-based, retrospective cohort study using abstracts from the International Congress on Schizophrenia Research and the Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia (n = 9,284). Comparative analysis using abstracts from the International Society for the Psychological Treatment of Schizophrenia (n = 992). Patient-centredness was assessed by determining the number of abstracts that primarily addressed participants' subjective experiences.


RESULTS
Research was presented from 50 countries globally. European and North American countries produced 8,573 (92%) of the total. Biological research was the main theme of 6,960 (75%) of the abstracts, with psychosocial research constituting less than 5%. One hundred and eighty three (2%) abstracts from the two main conferences addressed subjective experiences, as did 333 (34%) from the comparative analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Between 1988 and 2004 research emanating from North American and European countries, together with biologically orientated research, were the most prevalent perspectives on schizophrenia. It appears that research into the subjective experiences of participants has not been as prevalent as more objective accounts of the disorder, suggesting that this research effort has not been patient-centred.
Calton
Timothy
T
Division of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, UK. tim.calton@btinternet.com
Cheetham
Anna
A
D'Silva
Karen
K
Glazebrook
Cristine
C
D015706:Bibliometrics; D015331:Cohort Studies; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000266:history*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia