Aim. To compare the treatment outcomes of DSM-IV-TR schizophrenia patients in either
a Community Treatment Program or an Individual Treatment Program (CTP vs. ITP).
The assessment was made after the first hospitalization, and then after three and twelve years.
Method. Participants were randomly assigned to CTP (experimental) and ITP (traditional)
group, with 40 people in each group. 67 people (84%) participated in all three assessments.
The socio-demographic and clinical indicators were the same for both groups. In the first three
years only the CTP group participated in day-care treatment, patient and family psychoeducation
and community treatment. Later, both groups received this treatment. The following
tools were used: Anamnestic and Catamnestic Questionnaire, the GAF scale, the BPRS LA
and Lehman’s Quality of Life Interview.
Results. It was only after twelve years that there was a significant beneficial improvement
in the mean GAF score in the CTP group (p = 0.036), which was comparable with the results
obtained by Watt and Shepherd for the course of the illness in favorable remission cases
(p = 0.038). The difference in the number of relapses was also significantly in favor of the CTP
group only after 12 years (p = 0.045), as was the difference in the number of rehospitalizations
(p = 0.013). The general severity of symptoms was found to be significantly lower for the
CPT group after 3 (p = 0.008) and 12 years (p = 0.030), whereas it was significantly lower in
the case of positive syndrome only after 3 years (p = 0.044).
Conclusions. 1. A greater number of favorable differences were identified for the CTP
group at the twelve-year point than at the conclusion of the experiment. 2. The three-year delay in introducing psycho-social treatment was associated with a poorer long-term outcome
for the clinical course of schizophrenia.
keywords in Polish:
schizofrenia, wczesna psychospołeczna interwencja, odległe wyniki leczenia
keywords in English:
schizophrenia, early psychosocial intervention, long-term outcomes
departmental parameterization:
15
affiliation:
Wydział Lekarski : Zakład Psychiatrii Środowiskowej