Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 109, Issue 5 , Pages 378-388, May 2010

Symptomatic Resolution Among Chinese Patients With Schizophrenia and Associated Factors

  • Cheng-Ta Li

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Tung-Ping Su

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Yuan-Hwa Chou

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ying-Chiao Lee

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Mu-En Liu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Hsiao-Lun Ku

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ian-Kai Shan

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ya-Mei Bai

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Ya-Mei Bai, Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201 Shih-Pai Road Section 2, Taipei 11217, Taiwan

Received 1 March 2009; received in revised form 24 May 2009; accepted 22 August 2009.

Article Outline

Background/Purpose

The remission and resolution criteria for schizophrenia were defined by the Remission in Schizophrenia Working Group in 2005, using eight core items of the positive and negative symptoms scale for schizophrenia. Subsequent studies of Caucasians have reported similar remission/resolution rates of approximately one-third. However, the remission/resolution rate in Chinese patients has not previously been reported. The present study assessed symptom resolution rates and associated factors among medicated and clinically stable Chinese schizophrenia patients.

Methods

Chinese patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were followed-up 1 month after their last psychiatric hospitalization. Cross-sectional clinical assessments for psychopathology, side effect profiles, quality of life, psychosocial function, and neurocognition tests were performed.

Results

Thirty-three (36.7%) of a total of 90 patients met the resolution criteria. They had a significantly higher level of education and lower scores for positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and general psychopathology on the positive and negative symptoms scale; they had lower scores on the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser Side Effect Rating Scale, and Simpson Angus Scale; and higher scores on the Global Assessment of Functioning and Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptics scales, compared with patients who did not meet the resolution criteria. Multiple regression analyses controlling for age, sex, duration of illness, education, duration of index hospitalization, and antipsychotic dosage revealed that a higher Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser Side Effect Rating Scale score was related to lower rate of symptom resolution. The patients treated with clozapine and combinations of first generation antipsychotics and second generation antipsychotics had more severe psychopathology and side effects and showed a significantly lower resolution rate than did patients treated with first generation antipsychotics or second generation antipsychotics alone.

Conclusion

Consistent with studies of Caucasian patients, one-third of clinically stable Chinese patients met the resolution criteria, as well as having fewer general side effects, better global functioning and subjective well-being.

Key Words:  antipsychotic agents , remission , schizophrenia

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PII: S0929-6646(10)60066-6

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(10)60066-6

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 109, Issue 5 , Pages 378-388, May 2010

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