| Author/Editor | Novak-Šarotar, Brigita | |
| Title | Vpliv trajanja nezdravljene psihoze na potek bolezni pri bolnikih s shizofrenijo | |
| Type | monografija | |
| Place | Ljubljana | |
| Publisher | Univerza v Ljubljani, Medicinska fakulteta | |
| Publication year | 2006 | |
| Volume | str. 93 | |
| Language | slo | |
| Abstract | Background. Schizophrenia is an important mental disorder. The course of the disease is often chronic, with early onset and it may progress with time. The course and outcome of schizophrenia are influenced by many factors; one of which is the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), which is defined as the time between the onset of the first psychotic symptom and the initiation of appropriate drug treatment with antipsychotics. A longer DUP is associated with poorer prognosis. Aim of the study was to test the influence of DUP on the long-term course and severity of schizophrenia; to test the hypothesis that early treatment with antipsychotics improves the outcome; to compare short and long-term outcome in patients with a DUP longer than 1 year (group 1) with patients who had been treated in the prodromal phase of the disease (group 0). Patients and methods. Eighty-seven patients with schizophrenia were included to the retrospective study, 37 patients comprised group 0. They had an average age of 38 years, and 50 patients comprised group 1. They had an average age of 41 years. The course and outcome of the disease was studied in the two groups. The severity of schizophrenia was evaluated by measuring several clinical and paraclinical parameters. The symptom severity was evaluated using a check list developed from CAARMS inventory; the average daily dose of antipsychotics was calculated as well as the number and duration of hospital admissions; sociodemographic parameters evaluated included educational level achieved, employment and marital status. Groups were compared during the first psychotic episode and at the conclusion of the study. Results. The analyses revealed that the most frequent prodromal symptoms in group 0 are anxiety, depression, disorders of sleep and concentration, social isolation and somatic delusions and hallucinations. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters) | |
| Descriptors | SCHIZOPHRENIA PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS ANTIPSYCHOTIC AGENTS PROGNOSIS PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT RETROSPECTIVE STUDIES |