Symptomatic Remission in Schizophrenia and its Relationship with Functional Outcome Measures in Indian Population.

INTRODUCTION

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder with disabling symptoms and variable outcome. Outcome is a multidimensional construct that depends on description of clinical and social domains. Symptomatic remission is one such clinical domain which can determine the outcome of illness.

AIM: The study aimed to assess functional outcome in symptomatic remitted schizophrenia patients compared to unremitted patients in Indian population.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Institute of Mental Health, Chennai, India. Remitted (symptom free in preceding six months) and unremitted patients were assessed by Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale, World Health Organization-Quality of Life BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). There were 30 patients in each group. All statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0 statistical software.

RESULTS

Patients in symptomatic remission were found to have better quality of life in personal, environmental and social domains (p<0.01). Their personal and social performance is significantly better in remission group. The overall functioning was assessed by GAF, was better in patients with symptomatic remission (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Symptomatic remission may be a good indicator of better clinical status, personal and social functioning and quality of life.