Factors Associated with the Prodromal Progression of Schizophrenia that Influence the Course of the Illness

Abstract

AbstractObjective:This study examined factors influencing the prognosis of patients with different prodromal manifestations of schizophrenia and the association of diagnosis and antipsychotic treatment with the frequency of future acute inpatient care.Methods:Data was collected from the medical records of 24 patients initially diagnosed with schizophrenia.Results:Seventy-six percent of the patients (N=18) had at least one psychiatric assessment before the debut of schizophrenia. Patients who were assessed prior to the initial diagnosis of schizophrenia presented in two distinct time frames. Patients in the first wave received a different Axis I diagnosis, depending on the phase of prodrome upon time of initial evaluation. Receiving any Axis I diagnosis during the prodromal stage in wave one correlated with an increased need for acute inpatient treatment (P<.0001) in the following 3 years. Among the patients in wave two, those who received antipsychotic treatment required less acute inpatient care than those who did not (P=.004).Conclusion:Obtaining a psychiatric history of assessments and interventions during the prodromal period of schizophrenia can be useful for prognosis.