Citation

Thirthalli J, Venkatesh BK, Kishorekumar KV, Arunachala U, Venkatasubramanian G, Subbakrishna DK, Gangadhar BN. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 2009; 119(3): 209-217.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, India. jagatth@yahoo.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01299.x

PMID

19053968

Abstract

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 x 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.

Language: en