title: Global assessment of psychosocial functioning and predictors of outcome in schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study identified predictors of psychosocial outcome in schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed group of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia were assessed as part of a routine clinical evaluation. A linear regression analysis was conducted in order to examine the effect of duration of untreated illness, number of previous hospitalisations, history of psychotic episodes and age at illness onset on patients' functioning, as assessed with the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Number of previous psychotic episodes as well as duration of untreated illness were the strongest predictors of patients' levels of functioning amongst all main outcome measures. Older age at illness onset also predicted poorer functioning. Limitations. A principal limitation of our study is that our sample included predominantly Caucasian males; therefore, any extrapolation to other groups may remain speculative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary results suggest that psychosocial outcome in schizophrenia may be affected by different factors. Longer history of psychotic episodes emerged as the most significant determinant of poorer outcome while longer duration of untreated illness and older age at illness onset were also associated with detrimental effects. Our findings may reflect the combined influences of neurodevelopmental abnormalities, exposure to psychotropic medication and psychosocial interventions as well as the vicissitudes of natural aging processes embedded in a chronic mental illness.
authors: Section of Neurobiology of Mood Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.
authors: Evgenia
authors: E
authors: Stefanopoulou
authors: Antonio Romero
authors: AR
authors: Lafuente
authors: Andres Saez
authors: AS
authors: Fonseca
authors: Shaun
authors: S
authors: Keegan
authors: Celia
authors: C
authors: Vishnick
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Huxley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D055815:Young Adult