Factors associated with relapse in patients with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
To assess risk factors for relapse in patients with schizophrenia attended in daily practice.


METHODS
Patients with schizophrenia admitted consecutively to short-stay/acute-care psychiatric units over a 6-month period were eligible. Variables statistically significant in the univariate logistic regression analysis were then subjected to multivariate analysis.


RESULTS
The study population included 1646 patients (67.6% men). In the univariate analysis, low family support, duration of illness > 5 years, number of previous hospitalizations, cocaine and cannabis consumption, and number of different antipsychotic drug classes were risk factors for relapse. In the multivariate analysis, number of previous hospitalizations (odds ratio [OR] 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21-1.36) and number of different antipsychotics previously used (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.03-1.24) were significant predictors of relapse. The absence of cannabis consumption was a protective factor (OR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.58-0.89). Neither adherence to treatment in the previous 3 years nor type of antipsychotic regimen was significantly associated with relapse.


CONCLUSIONS
Number of previous hospitalizations and number of different types of antipsychotic drugs were associated with relapse. Absence of cannabis consumption was a protective factor.
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu , CIBERSAM, Esplugues del Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. 12636lsm@comb.cat
Luis
L
San
Miquel
M
Bernardo
Agustín
A
Gómez
Mario
M
Peña
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012944:Social Support; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents