title: A functional comparison of patients with schizophrenia between the North and South of Europe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The main objective of this study was to compare clinical and functional outcomes of patients with schizophrenia in Italy and Sweden with a special focus on daily functioning performance and real life milestones. Also, to study if outcome is to be regarded as a consequence of premorbid function, the level of symptom control and functional capacity or if other influences, such as cultural differences, must parallel be considered.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-five patients from three centres, Milan and Naples in Italy and Trollhattan in Sweden were investigated. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the UCSD Performance-Based Skills Assessment - Brief version were used together with patients' school history and their status of accommodation and occupation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in Trollhattan were more likely to live independently and patients in Naples to have a work or take part in education. Differences in symptoms and the performance test were present but subtle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in real life milestones were not explained by corresponding differences in symptoms, premorbid function or the performance-based test. It is therefore not appropriate only to present functional outcome as an expression of how successful treatment has been.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, NU-Health Care Hospital, 46185 Trollhattan, Sweden. lars@helldin.se
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Helldin
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Cavallaro
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Galderisi