Long-term follow-up of schizophrenics admitted to a general hospital psychiatric ward

Five years after their first hospitalizations there was little evidence of the old degeneration of functioning or of chronic institutionalization formerly found among schizophrenic platients, although many experienced symptomatology and temporary relapses.

Abstract

The present study constitutes a long-term (5 years) follow-up of a sample of first admission schizophrenic patients from a general hospital psychiatric ward. Post-hospital adjustment was assessed by rate of rehospitalization, symptomatology, socialization, family functioning, and instrumental work performance. To determine the schizophrenics' declines or advances in functioning, we compared (1) their current social, family, and work performance with (2) their premorbid levels in these areas. Five years after their first hospitalizations there was almost no evidence of chronic institutionalization. The sample, however, did show a relatively high level of symptoms in comparison to other samples of discharged schizophrenics administered the same instruments, and 50% of the patients had been rehospitalized at least once. These schizophrenics' levels of socialization, family responsiblity, and instrumental work performance were reasonably high. In comparison to their premorbid (2 years prior to hospitalization) functioning, 45% of the sample were functioning at a higher level and only 15% at a lower level. There was little evidence of the old degeneration of functioning or of chronic institutionalization formerly found among schizophrenic platients, although many experienced symptomatology and temporary relapses.