%0 Journal Article
%T Prospective comparison of course of disability in antipsychotic-treated and untreated schizophrenia patients
%J Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica
%D 2009
%A Thirthalli, J.
%A Venkatesh, B. K.
%A Kishorekumar, K. V.
%A Arunachala, U.
%A Venkatasubramanian, G.
%A Subbakrishna, D. K.
%A Gangadhar, B. N.
%V 119
%N 3
%P 209-217
%X 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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I John Wiley and Sons
%@ 0001-690X
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01299.x