Symptomatic resolution among Chinese patients with schizophrenia and associated factors.
OBJECTIVE
The remission and resolution criteria for schizophrenia were defined by the Remission in Schizophrenia Working Group in 2005, using eight core items of the positive and negative symptoms scale for schizophrenia. Subsequent studies of Caucasians have reported similar remission/resolution rates of approximately one-third. However, the remission/resolution rate in Chinese patients has not previously been reported. The present study assessed symptom resolution rates and associated factors among medicated and clinically stable Chinese schizophrenia patients.


METHODS
Chinese patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were followed-up 1 month after their last psychiatric hospitalization. Cross-sectional clinical assessments for psychopathology, side effect profiles, quality of life, psychosocial function, and neurocognition tests were performed.


RESULTS
Thirty-three (36.7%) of a total of 90 patients met the resolution criteria. They had a significantly higher level of education and lower scores for positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and general psychopathology on the positive and negative symptoms scale; they had lower scores on the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser Side Effect Rating Scale, and Simpson Angus Scale; and higher scores on the Global Assessment of Functioning and Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptics scales, compared with patients who did not meet the resolution criteria. Multiple regression analyses controlling for age, sex, duration of illness, education, duration of index hospitalization, and antipsychotic dosage revealed that a higher Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser Side Effect Rating Scale score was related to lower rate of symptom resolution. The patients treated with clozapine and combinations of first generation antipsychotics and second generation antipsychotics had more severe psychopathology and side effects and showed a significantly lower resolution rate than did patients treated with first generation antipsychotics or second generation antipsychotics alone.


CONCLUSIONS
Consistent with studies of Caucasian patients, one-third of clinically stable Chinese patients met the resolution criteria, as well as having fewer general side effects, better global functioning and subjective well-being.
Li
Cheng-Ta
CT
Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Su
Tung-Ping
TP
Chou
Yuan-Hwa
YH
Lee
Ying-Chiao
YC
Liu
Mu-En
ME
Ku
Hsiao-Lun
HL
Shan
Ian-Kai
IK
Bai
Ya-Mei
YM
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044466:Asian People; D003024:Clozapine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine