title: Long-term outcome of schizoaffective disorder. Are there any differences with respect to schizophrenia?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A number of studies suggest that the clinical characteristics and long-term outcome of schizoaffective patients closely resemble those observed in schizophrenia when cases are diagnosed according to DSM criteria. The primary aim was to compare remission and recovery rates in a cohort of chronic schizoaffective and schizophrenic outpatients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 102 consecutive outpatients, 46 affected by schizophrenia (45.1%, mean age 44.22±9.97 years) and 66 affected by schizoaffective disorder (54.9%, mean age 43.00±9.07 years) was examined in the study. Personal data and psychiatric history were collected according to AMDP system; premorbid assessment was performed by means of PAS. Axis I and II psychiatric diagnosis was confirmed by means of SCID-I and II. Psychopathological status was evaluated by means of PANSS and CGI-SCH scales; neuropsychological evaluation was performed by means of BACS and MMSE; Functioning, subjective well-being and quality of life were respectively evaluated by means of PSP, SWN and WHOQoL-bref.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients investigated were characterized by an overlapping age at onset, mean duration of illness, mean duration of untreated psychosis and common sociodemographic characteristics; subjects' cross-sectional psychopathological and neurocognitive profiles were remarkably similar. However, schizoaffective patients are more frequently of the female gender, showing a better social premorbid adjustment and a somewhat more complicated clinical course in terms of more frequent hospitalizations and suicidality; outcome measures are substantially better among schizoaffective patients: rates of clinical remission were 43.5% and 54.5% in schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients, respectively; 13% and 25.8% of schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients, respectively, were considered as functionally remitted; recovery was observed in 6.5% and 22.7% of schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients, respectively; the majority of patients, both schizophrenic and schizoaffective, were taking antipsychotics, mainly atypical, although a significantly higher proportion of schizoaffective subjects were on mood stabilizers, antidepressants and benzodiazepines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to schizophrenic patients, DSM-IV-TR schizoaffective patients may be considered as a subgroup of psychotic patients displaying several specific characteristics in terms of clinical course, clinical and functional outcome and treatment.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perra
authors.forename: Rachele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pisu Randaccio
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diana
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carpiniello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life; D012074:Remission Induction; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs