title: Self-esteem and relapse in schizophrenia: a 5-year follow-up study.
abstract: This study investigated the association between an interview-based measure of self-esteem and subsequent clinical outcome in recent-onset schizophrenia. A cohort 5-year follow-up design with retrospective chart assessment of clinical outcomes was used. Relapse rates during 5 years were very high, with 92% of the sample relapsing. Self-esteem consisted of two dimensions, negative evaluation of self (NES) and positive evaluation of self (PES). Survival analysis indicated that high NES was significantly associated with shorter time to relapse; and PES, with longer survival time. The participants with high PES were three times more likely to have delayed relapse; no other covariates were significant. PES seemed to buffer the adverse effects of NES. The results indicate that social cognition in the form of self-evaluation may be implicated in clinical outcome and symptom exacerbation in schizophrenia.This study investigated the association between an interview-based measure of self-esteem and subsequent clinical outcome in recent-onset schizophrenia. A cohort 5-year follow-up design with retrospective chart assessment of clinical outcomes was used. Relapse rates during 5 years were very high, with 92% of the sample relapsing. Self-esteem consisted of two dimensions, negative evaluation of self (NES) and positive evaluation of self (PES). Survival analysis indicated that high NES was significantly associated with shorter time to relapse; and PES, with longer survival time. The participants with high PES were three times more likely to have delayed relapse; no other covariates were significant. PES seemed to buffer the adverse effects of NES. The results indicate that social cognition in the form of self-evaluation may be implicated in clinical outcome and symptom exacerbation in schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, England. Joanne.holding@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Joanne C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Holding
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tarrier
authors.forename: Lynsey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gregg
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barrowclough
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012944:Social Support; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult