title: A prospective cohort study on the role of nonspecialist staff in preventing relapses and improving clinic attendance of patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Sri Lankan government employs graduates from local universities (trained in nonpsychiatry disciplines) as Mental Health Development Officers (MHDOs) to fulfill the role of a psychiatric social worker.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective interventional cohort study on preventing relapses of schizophrenia by active involvement of MHDOs. The intervention (randomly selected) and control groups each had 25 follow-up patients with schizophrenia (1:1 match for sex, ethnicity, age, and duration of illness). The intervention was to develop a close liaison with the patient/family and build an individualized client oriented follow-up through the MHDOs. The follow-up period was 1 year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention group had better clinic attendance, less relapses, and defaults. The number needed to follow-up to avert a relapse or a default was 12.5 and 5 respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-cost strategies involving nonspecialist staff can reduce relapses and defaults in patients with schizophrenia.
authors: Psychiatry Unit, Provincial General Hospital, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka.
authors: Chaturaka
authors: C
authors: Rodrigo
authors: Srina
authors: S
authors: Welgama
authors: Thilina
authors: T
authors: Wijeratne
authors: Ruvini
authors: R
authors: Weligepola
authors: Senaka
authors: S
authors: Rajapakse
authors: Gamini
authors: G
authors: Jayananda
keywords: Prevention; relapses; schizophrenia; social workers