TY - JOUR
T1 - Prospective comparison of course of disability in antipsychotic-treated and untreated schizophrenia patients
AU - Thirthalli, J.
AU - Basappa Krishnamurthy, Venkatesh
AU - Kishorekumar, K. V.
AU - Arunachala, U.
AU - Venkatasubramanian, G.
AU - Subbakrishna, D. K.
AU - Gangadhar, B. N.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2009/3
Y1 - 2009/3
N2 - Objective: To compare the course of disability in schizophrenia patients receiving antipsychotics and those remaining untreated in a rural community. Method: Of 215 schizophrenia patients identified in a rural south Indian community, 58% were not receiving antipsychotics. Trained raters assessed the disability in 190 of these at baseline and after 1 year. The course of disability in those who remained untreated was compared with that in those who received antipsychotics. Results: Mean disability scores remained virtually unchanged in those who remained untreated, but showed a significant decline (indicating decrement in disability) in those who continued to receive antipsychotics and in those in whom antipsychotic treatment was initiated (P < 0.001; group × occasion effect). The proportion of patients classified as 'disabled' declined significantly in the treated group (P < 0.01), but remained the same in the untreated group. Conclusion: Disability in untreated schizophrenia patients remains unchanged over time. Treatment with antipsychotics in the community results in a considerable reduction in disability.
AB - Objective: To compare the course of disability in schizophrenia patients receiving antipsychotics and those remaining untreated in a rural community. Method: Of 215 schizophrenia patients identified in a rural south Indian community, 58% were not receiving antipsychotics. Trained raters assessed the disability in 190 of these at baseline and after 1 year. The course of disability in those who remained untreated was compared with that in those who received antipsychotics. Results: Mean disability scores remained virtually unchanged in those who remained untreated, but showed a significant decline (indicating decrement in disability) in those who continued to receive antipsychotics and in those in whom antipsychotic treatment was initiated (P < 0.001; group × occasion effect). The proportion of patients classified as 'disabled' declined significantly in the treated group (P < 0.01), but remained the same in the untreated group. Conclusion: Disability in untreated schizophrenia patients remains unchanged over time. Treatment with antipsychotics in the community results in a considerable reduction in disability.
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01299.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01299.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 19053968
AN - SCOPUS:58849106327
SN - 0001-690X
VL - 119
SP - 209
EP - 217
JO - Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
JF - Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
IS - 3
ER -