Predictors of relapse in the year after hospital discharge among patients with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
Relapse and its predictors were examined among patients with schizophrenia in the year after hospital discharge.


METHODS
The sample included 200 patients with schizophrenia participating in a German multicenter study. Relapse was defined as a worsening of psychopathological symptoms or rehospitalization in the year after hospital discharge. Predictors examined were variables related to course of illness and to response and remission at discharge.


RESULTS
Fifty-two percent of participants had a relapse. Patients whose symptoms were not in remission at discharge were more likely to have a relapse, as were those who had more severe symptoms and more side effects at discharge. Those who experienced a relapse were less likely to be taking a second-generation antipsychotic at discharge, less likely to have a positive attitude toward treatment adherence, and less likely to be employed.


CONCLUSIONS
The high rate of relapse among patients with schizophrenia highlights the need to improve current treatment strategies.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Nussbaumstreet 7, 80336 Munich, Germany. rebecca.schennach@med.unimuenchen.de
Rebecca
R
Schennach
Michael
M
Obermeier
Sebastian
S
Meyer
Markus
M
Jäger
Max
M
Schmauss
Gerd
G
Laux
Herbert
H
Pfeiffer
Dieter
D
Naber
Lutz G
LG
Schmidt
Wolfgang
W
Gaebel
Joachim
J
Klosterkötter
Isabella
I
Heuser
Wolfgang
W
Maier
Matthias R
MR
Lemke
Eckart
E
Rüther
Stefan
S
Klingberg
Markus
M
Gastpar
Florian
F
Seemüller
Hans-Jürgen
HJ
Möller
Michael
M
Riedel
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents