Global assessment of psychosocial functioning and predictors of outcome in schizophrenia

Abstract

Our preliminary results suggest that psychosocial outcome in schizophrenia may be affected by different factors. Longer history of psychotic episodes emerged as the most significant determinant of poorer outcome while longer duration of untreated illness and older age at illness onset were also associated with detrimental effects. Our findings may reflect the combined influences of neurodevelopmental abnormalities, exposure to psychotropic medication and psychosocial interventions as well as the vicissitudes of natural aging processes embedded in a chronic mental illness.