title: Remission as perceived by people with schizophrenia, family members and psychiatrists.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies indicate that patient-rated outcomes and symptomatic remission as defined by the remission in schizophrenia working group rely on different assumptions. The aim of this observational study was to assess symptomatic remission by patients with schizophrenia, family members and psychiatrists and to compare their assessments with standardized criteria and clinical measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and thirty-one patients with schizophrenia (DSM-IV), family members and psychiatrists assessed remission within the European Group on Functional Outcomes and Remission in Schizophrenia (EGOFORS) project. Symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale [PANSS]), functional outcome (Functional Recovery Scale in Schizophrenia [FROGS]), subjective well-being (SWN-K) and demographic characteristics were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Remission assessed by psychiatrists showed the best accordance with standardized remission (80%), followed by remission assessed by family members (52%) and patients (43%). Only in 18%, patients, relatives and psychiatrists agreed in their assessments. Good subjective well-being was most important for remission estimated by patients, good subjective well-being and symptom reduction by family members, and finally better symptom scores, well-being and functioning by psychiatrists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self- and expert-rated clinical outcomes differ markedly, with a preference on the patients' side for subjective outcome. Symptomatic remission as assessed by the standardized criteria plays a secondary role for patients and relatives in daily clinical practice. A more thorough consideration of patients' and caregivers' perspectives should supplement the experts' assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosis Early Detection and Intervention Centre, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. karow@uke.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karow
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Naber
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moritz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011570:Psychiatry; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents