Symptomatic and functional remission and its associations with quality of life in patients with psychotic disorder in Assertive Community Treatment teams.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the present study were (1) to determine the proportion and characteristics of patients treated in Assertive Community Treatment teams who achieve symptomatic remission (SR) and/or functional remission (FR) and (2) to explore the association between both types of remission and (3) their bearing on quality of life (QoL).

METHODS: Data comprised assessments from 278 patients who were repeatedly assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale to assess SR, the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales to assess FR, and a shortened version of the Manchester Short Assessment to assess QoL. χ(2) Tests and a logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the relation between patient and treatment characteristics and achieving SR or FR. A Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U tests, and a logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the relationship between remission status and QoL.

RESULTS: After a mean treatment duration of 2.4 years, 26% met the criteria for SR and 30% for FR. Prescription of antipsychotic medication was associated with achieving both SR and FR. Approximately half of the patients who achieved SR also achieved FR. Achieving FR was associated with better QoL. Patients in SR did not have better QoL than did patients not in SR.

CONCLUSIONS: Remission of symptoms in patients treated in Assertive Community Treatment teams was not a prerequisite for FR or vice versa. FR, not SR, was associated with better QoL.