Does attitude toward psychosis relate to outcome?

Abstract

In a previous follow-up of recovered schizophrenic patients, it was found that a positive, integrating attitude toward illness correlated with good outcome. In similar research at NIH, the authors of this study obtained partial replication of these findings. Specifically, the less negative patients were about their illness and future, the better their outcome. A very positive attitude was not associated with good outcome. Hence, the absence of a negative attitude appears critical. The authors failed to find a relationship between integration or isolation of the psychotic experience and outcome, which suggests the incidence of this (unconscious) psychological coping style from a conscious attitude and opinion about illness and the future.